# US 8,571,413 B2 · Apparatus, method, and system for improving bandwidth of a plug and a corresponding receptacle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,413 B2 - Document ID: US8571413B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/890,443 - Filed: 2010-09-24 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-24 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Jamyuen Ko; Hengju Cheng - Inventors: Jamyuen Ko; Hengju Cheng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571413B2 ## CPC - H04B 10/40: Transceivers - G02B 6/32: having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)} - G02B 6/3817: {containing optical and electrical conductors (cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/3893: {Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Described herein is an apparatus for improving bandwidth of a transceiver system e.g., a Universal Serial Bus (USB) micro-B connector. The apparatus comprises a first pair of lens units, each lens unit of the pair positioned on either side of an input-output (I/O) bus interface, the pair of lens units to send and receive optical signals respectively; a first housing to shield the first pair of lens units and for physically coupling the I/O bus interface and the first pair of lens units to a receptacle; and a key to grasp the first housing and to lock the first housing with the receptacle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a first pair of lens units, each lens unit of the pair positioned on either side of an input-output (I/O) bus interface, the pair of lens units to send and receive optical signals respectively; a first housing to shield the first pair of lens units and for physically coupling the I/O bus interface and the first pair of lens units to a receptacle; and a key to grasp the first housing and to lock the first housing with the receptacle, wherein each lens unit of the first pair of lens units comprises: a lens; a spring to maintain a position of the lens relative to an optical axis of the lens; a first taper housing to house the lens and for locking the lens with a corresponding lens of the receptacle; and a hole to couple the lens with an optical waveguide interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the I/O bus interface is a Universal Serial Bus 2 (USB2) I/O interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the USB2 interface resides physically next to a USB3 I/O interface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a second housing coupled to the first housing, the second housing to couple the USB2 and the USB3 I/O interfaces to a cable having an electrical transmission line and an optical waveguide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the USB2 and the USB3 I/O interfaces have electrical contacts that are configured to be backward compatible with a USB micro-B connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the key is operable to be pressed to unlock the first housing to allow it to move freely along a predetermined distance, and wherein the key is further operable to be released to lock the first housing with the receptacle and to prevent the first housing from moving freely along the predetermined distance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises: an I/O bus interface having electrical contacts; an optical transceiver to send and receive optical signals; and a third housing to maintain a position of the optical transceiver and the electrical contacts of the I/O bus interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the optical transceiver comprises: a second pair of lens units, each lens unit of the second pair of lens units separated from one another by a distance equal to a distance of separation between the lens units of the first pair of lens units; a photodiode coupled to one of the lens units of the second pair of the lens units, the photodiode to convert photons to an electrical signal; and a laser diode coupled to the other lens units of the second pair of the lens units, the laser diode to convert an electrical signal to photons. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each lens unit of the second pair of lens units comprises: a lens; a second taper housing to house the lens and for locking the lens with a corresponding lens of the first pair of lens units, wherein the second taper housing has a second taper angle which is different from a first taper angle of the first taper housing; and a hole to couple the lens to an optical waveguide interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the optical transceiver further comprises an integrated circuit to drive the laser diode and to convert the electrical signal from the photodiode to an electrical current or voltage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the I/O bus interface of the receptacle is a Universal Serial Bus 2 (USB2) I/O interface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the USB2 I/O interface of the receptacle resides physically next to a USB3 I/O interface of the receptacle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the receptacle further comprises a fourth housing to cover the third housing and to lock in position with the third housing via a key of the third housing. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a receptacle; and a plug to couple to the receptacle, the plug comprising: a first pair of lens units, each lens unit of the pair positioned on either side of an input-output (I/O) bus interface, the pair of lens units to send and receive optical signals respectively; a first housing to shield the first pair of lens units and for physically coupling the I/O bus interface and the first pair of lens units to the receptacle; and a key to grasp the first housing and to lock the first housing with the receptacle, wherein each lens unit of the first pair of lens units comprises: a lens; a spring to maintain a position of the lens relative to an optical axis of the lens; a first taper housing to house the lens and for locking the lens with a corresponding lens of the receptacle; and a hole to couple the lens with an optical waveguide interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the I/O bus interface is a Universal Serial Bus 2 (USB2) I/O interface which resides physically next to a USB3 I/O interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the USB2 and the USB3 I/O interfaces include electrical contacts that are configured to be backward compatible with a USB micro-B connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the receptacle comprises: an I/O bus interface having electrical contacts; an optical transceiver to send and receive optical signals; and a third housing to maintain a position of the optical transceiver and the electrical contacts of the I/O bus interface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the optical transceiver comprises: a second pair of lens units, each lens unit of the second pair of lens units separated from one another by a distance equal to a distance of separation between the lens units of the first pair of lens units; a photodiode coupled to one of the lens units of the second pair of the lens units, the photodiode to convert photons to an electrical signal; and a laser diode coupled to the other lens unit of the second pair of the lens units, the laser diode to convert an electrical signal to photons.