# US 9,753,225 B2 · Passive alignment optical connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,753,225 B2 - Document ID: US9753225B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/972,384 - Filed: 2015-12-17 - Published: 2017-06-22 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-17 - Assignees: Xyratex Technology Limited - Applicants: Xyratex Technology Limited - Inventors: Alistair Allen Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753225B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/30: for use between fibre and thin-film device - G02B 6/3885: {Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448)} - G02B 6/3897: {Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/4224: {using visual alignment markings, e.g. index methods} - G02B 6/423: {using guiding surfaces for the alignment} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A system, apparatus, or method may include an optical connector that is configured to be fixed to a substrate including an optical waveguide. The substrate may also include a reference mark spaced away from the optical waveguide and extending from a substrate edge. The optical connector may define a first alignment aperture and a second alignment aperture through which the optical connector may be aligned with the substrate (e.g., the optical waveguide). The first alignment aperture may be configured to be aligned with the reference mark and the second alignment aperture may be configured to be aligned with the substrate edge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a substrate comprising an optical waveguide extending along a longitudinal direction from a substrate edge and a reference mark spaced away from the optical waveguide and extending from the substrate edge; and an optical connector defining a first alignment aperture and a second alignment aperture, and the optical connector defining a top surface and a bottom surface opposing the top surface, each of the first and second alignment apertures define a bottom opening at the bottom surface and a top opening at the top surface, the first alignment aperture is configured to be aligned with the reference mark and the second alignment aperture is configured to be aligned with the substrate edge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first alignment aperture defines a first alignment center point and the reference mark intersects the substrate edge to define an intersection, wherein the first alignment center point is configured to be aligned with the intersection. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface faces the substrate, wherein a bottom diameter of the bottom opening is smaller than a top diameter of the top opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the optical connector comprises a first lens positioned in the first alignment aperture on or adjacent the top surface and a second lens positioned in the second alignment aperture on or adjacent the top surface, wherein each of the first and second lenses is configured to magnify the reference mark and substrate edge for alignment, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate defines at least one substrate alignment aperture spaced away from the substrate edge, wherein the at least one substrate alignment aperture is configured to receive an alignment feature of the optical connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one substrate alignment aperture is defined by a circular shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the optical connector comprises a receptor element configured to receive and optically couple an optical element with the optical waveguide, wherein the receptor element is spaced apart from the edge surface of the substrate by the gap distance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate edge is defined by a top surface of the substrate and an edge surface of the substrate, wherein the reference mark is positioned on the top surface of the substrate, wherein the optical connector is spaced apart a gap distance from the edge surface of the substrate. ### Claim 9 An apparatus comprising: an optical connector configured to be fixed to a substrate and defining a first alignment aperture and a second alignment aperture, and the optical connector defining a top surface and a bottom surface opposing the top surface, each of the first and second alignment apertures define a bottom opening at the bottom surface and a top opening at the top surface, the first alignment aperture configured to align with a reference mark spaced away from an optical waveguide on the substrate and the second alignment aperture configured to align with a substrate edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first alignment aperture defines a first alignment center point and the reference mark intersects the substrate edge to define an intersection, wherein the first alignment center point is aligned with the intersection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the optical connector comprises a first lens positioned on or within the first alignment aperture and a second lens positioned on or within the second alignment aperture, wherein each of the first and second lenses is configured to magnify the reference mark and substrate edge for alignment, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the bottom surface faces the substrate, wherein a bottom diameter of the bottom opening is smaller than a top diameter of the top opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the optical connector comprises a first lens positioned in the first alignment aperture on or adjacent the top surface and a second lens positioned in the second alignment aperture on or adjacent the top surface, wherein each of the first and second lenses is configured to magnify the reference mark and substrate edge for alignment, respectively. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein an adhesive fixes the optical connector to the substrate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the substrate edge is defined by a top surface of the substrate and an edge surface of the substrate, wherein the reference mark is positioned on the top surface of the substrate, wherein the optical connector is spaced apart a gap distance from the edge surface of the substrate. ### Claim 16 A method comprising: positioning an optical connector relative to a substrate, the substrate comprising an optical waveguide extending along a longitudinal direction from a substrate edge and a reference mark spaced away from the optical waveguide and extending from the substrate edge; aligning a first alignment aperture of the optical connector with the reference mark; aligning a second alignment aperture of the optical connector with the substrate edge, each of the first and second alignment apertures extending through the optical connector between a top surface of the optical connector and a bottom surface of the optical connector; and fixing the optical connector to the substrate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein fixing the optical connector to the substrate comprises curing a photo curable adhesive between the optical connector and the substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein aligning the first alignment aperture of the optical connector comprises aligning a center of the first alignment aperture with an intersection of the reference mark and the substrate edge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising cleaving the substrate perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to define the substrate edge prior to positioning the optical connector relative to the substrate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein aligning the second alignment aperture comprises rotating the optical connector about the reference mark to align the second alignment aperture with the substrate edge after aligning the first alignment aperture with the reference mark.