DEVICE WITH MAGNETICALLY MATING OPTICAL DATA CONNECTORS

• US 20120177324A1
• Filed: 11/11/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: SCHWANDT, Sheldon Terry, BARAKE, Omar George Joseph, WINGER, Lyall Kenneth, DIKUN, Raymond Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/294,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20120177324A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/57
• 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 6/3886 Magnetic means to align ferrule ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

An electronic device. The electronic device includes a processor, a memory that stores information operated upon by the processor, and a wireless communications component that provides wireless data communications between the processor and a wireless data network. The electronic device further has a magnetically mating optical circuit connector with at least one optical terminal, a connector body that engages a corresponding connector. The connector body comprising at least one alignment feature that aligns, when the connector body engages the corresponding connector, each of the at least one optical terminal with a respective corresponding optical terminal of the corresponding connector. The connector body further has at least one magnetic attachment area that magnetically attaches the connector body to the corresponding connector.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to store information operated upon by the processor;

a wireless communications component configured to provide wireless data communications between the processor and a wireless data network; and

magnetically mating optical circuit connector, comprising;

at least one optical terminal;

a connector body configured to engage a corresponding connector,

the connector body attached to the at least one optical terminal,

the connector body comprising at least one alignment feature configured to align, when the connector body engages the corresponding connector, each of the at least one optical terminal with a respective corresponding optical terminal of the corresponding connector; and

at least one magnetic attachment area, attached to the connector body,

the at least one magnetic attachment area configured to magnetically attach the connector body to the corresponding connector when the connector body is engaged into the corresponding connector.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, where the at least one magnetic attachment area comprises an electrically conductive path,

the electrically conductive path having an electrical connection on the at least one magnetic attachment area, and

the electrically conductive path of the at least one magnetic attachment area configured to conduct electrical power between the electrical connection and an electrical contact of the corresponding connector.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising at least one opto-electric component, each of the at least one opto-electric component being in optical communications with a respective optical terminal within the at least one optical terminal,

the at least one opto-electric component receiving power through the electrically conductive path.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, the connector body comprising a receptacle connector,

the connector body comprising at least one cavity configured to accept the corresponding connector,

the at least one optical terminal disposed within the at least one cavity.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, the connector body further comprising a moveable door, the movable door moveable from an open position to a closed position, the movable door blocking an opening of the cavity in the closed position.