Optical connectors and complimentary optical receptacles having magnetic attachment

• US 10,191,228 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Isenhour, Micah Colen, Lewallen, Christopher Paul, Luther, James Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US15/460,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20170184801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/382 with index-matching medium between light guides provisionally see G02B6/4212
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3886 Magnetic means to align ferrule ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

Disclosed are optical connectors and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the optical connector comprises an optical body, one or more first magnetic materials attached to the optical body, a housing, and one or more second magnetic materials attached to the housing. The first magnetic material(s) provide alignment with an optical element of a complimentary receptacle and the optical body may include one or more openings for receiving the first magnetic materials. The second magnetic material(s) attached to the housing provide retention of the optical connector with the complimentary receptacle when mated together. Consequently, the optical connector allows for quick and easy assembly along with a robust structure for a large number of mating/unmating cycles. In other embodiments, the optical devices disclosed may further include one or more electrical contacts for making a hybrid connection or have a TIR surface integrated into a portion of a housing.

Claims

1. An optical device, comprising:

a connector housing comprising;

a first portion comprising one or more magnetic pockets for receiving one or more second magnetic materials; and

a second portion coupled to the first portion, wherein the connector housing comprises one or more alignment features configured as protrusions; and

an optical body integrally formed with the first portion of the connector housing, the optical body comprising;

at least one optical channel having an optical interface portion,

a total internal reflection (TIR) surface for turning the optical signal of the at least one optical channel,

at least one fiber lead-in aligned to the TIR surface, wherein the optical body forms a portion of the connector housing for directly mating with an complimentary device, and

one or more openings for receiving one or more first magnetic materials.

2. The optical device of claim 1, further comprising the one or more first magnetic materials within the one or more openings of the optical body.

3. The optical device of claim 1, further including one or more electrical contacts.

4. The optical device of claim 3, the one or more electrical contacts being one or more pogo pin electrical contacts disposed in one or more bores.

5. The optical device of claim 4, the one or more bores for the electrical contacts being formed in the optical body.

6. The optical device of claim 1, further including a lens as a portion of the at least one optical channel.

7. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the optical interface portion is on a first side of the optical body and the one or more openings are on a second side of the optical body.

8. The optical device of claim 7, wherein the first side is located on an opposite side from the second side.

9. The optical device of claim 1, the optical body further including a well that opens to the at least one fiber lead-in.

10. The optical device of claim 1, the optical connector being a portion of a cable assembly.

30. The optical connector of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings are L-shaped openings.

31. The optical connector of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the housing comprises one or more ears as a grip for installing and removing the optical connector.

32. The optical connector of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a chamfer and a moat feature.

11. An optical connector, comprising:

a connector housing comprising one or more magnetic pockets and one or more alignment features configured as protrusions; and

an optical body integrally formed with the connector housing, and comprising at least one optical channel having an optical interface portion, a total internal reflection (TIR) surface for turning the optical signal of the at least one optical channel, at least one fiber lead-in aligned to the TIR surface, and one or more openings;

one or more first magnetic materials within the one or more openings of the optical body; and

one or more second magnetic materials within the one or more pockets of the connector housing.

12. The optical connector of claim 11, further including one or more electrical contacts.

13. The optical connector of claim 12, the one or more electrical contacts being one or more pogo pin electrical contacts disposed in one or more bores.

14. The optical connector of claim 13, the one or more bores for the electrical contacts being formed in the optical body.

15. The optical connector of claim 11, further including a lens as a portion of the at least one optical channel.

16. The optical connector of claim 11, wherein the optical interface portion is on a first side of the optical body and the one or more openings are on a second side of the optical body.

17. The optical connector of claim 16, wherein the first side is located on an opposite side from the second side.

18. The optical connector of claim 11, the optical body further including a well that opens to the at least one fiber lead-in.

19. The optical connector of claim 11, the optical connector being a portion of a cable assembly.

33. The optical connector of claim 11, wherein the optical body is biased forward with respect to the housing.

34. The optical connector of claim 11, wherein the one or more openings of the optical body are L-shaped.

20. An optical receptacle, comprising:

a receptacle optical body comprising at least one optical channel having an optical interface portion and one or more openings;

one or more first magnetic materials within the one or more openings of the optical body;

a housing comprising one or more magnetic pockets and one or more alignment features; and

one or more second magnetic materials within the one or more magnetic pockets of the housing.

21. The optical receptacle of claim 20, the receptacle optical body further comprising a total internal reflection (TIR) surface for turning the optical signal of the at least one optical channel.

22. The optical receptacle of claim 20, further including one or more electrical contacts.

23. The optical receptacle of claim 22, the one or more electrical contacts being one or more pogo pin electrical contacts disposed in one or more bores.

24. The optical receptacle of claim 23, the one or more bores for the electrical contacts being formed in the receptacle optical body.

25. The optical receptacle of claim 20, further including a lens as a portion of the at least one optical channel.

26. The optical receptacle of claim 20, wherein the optical interface portion is on a first side of the receptacle optical body and the one or more openings are on a second side of the receptacle optical body.

27. The optical receptacle of claim 26, wherein the first side is located on an opposite side from the second side.

28. The optical receptacle of claim 20, the housing comprising one or more alignment features.

29. The optical connector of claim 20, the optical receptacle being a portion of an electronic device.