OPTICAL CONNECTION OF DEVICES

• US 20130087690A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Golko, Albert J., Jol, Eric S., Spraggs, Ian, Sloey, Jason S.
• Application Number:
  US13/689,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20130087690A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/216
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• 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 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0232 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device H01L31/0236 takes precedence; for photovoltaic cells H01L31/054; for photovoltaic modules H02S40/20

Abstract

Optical connectors, adapters, and devices with such are provided. Optical connectors can have a relatively large diameter for the optical interface. For example, optical connectors can include a collector for receiving optical signals at a large opening and providing signals to a photodiode at a small opening of the collector. Such optical connectors with a large diameter for an optical interface can advantageously provide reduced alignment tolerances and/or provide high data rates. Adapters can use a collector to convert optical data signals from a large width fiber to a smaller width fiber. An optical connector can be in a docking station, and lie underneath a bottom surface of a recess in the docking station.

Claims

1. A connector that connects with a corresponding connector, the connector comprising:

a light collector having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, the first opening for receiving optical data signals, wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening; and

an active optical component configured to receive the optical data signals from the second opening and to convert the optical data signals to electrical signals, wherein the active optical component has a size substantially the same size as the second opening.

2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a lens at the first opening of the light collector.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the lens is made of sapphire.

4. The connector of claim 2, wherein the lens and light collector are formed as an integral piece, and wherein the lens and light collector are made of a glass.

5. The connector of claim 2, further comprising:

an optically clear adhesive between the lens and the light collector.

6. The connector of claim 2, wherein the lens protrudes from an external surface of the connector.

7. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving lens device optically coupled with the first opening of the light collector and configured to receive optical signals from the corresponding connector.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the receiving lens device includes aligning elements that receive an optical device of the corresponding connector and aligns the optical device with a lens of the lens device.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the active optical component is a photodiode.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the light collector is a parabolic concentrator.

11. An adapter comprising:

a first connector interface for receiving optical data signals;

a light collector having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, the first opening for receiving the optical data signals, wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening;

a first light guide that receives optical data signals at the second opening; and

a second connector interface for transmitting the optical data signals via the first light guide to a corresponding connector interface.

12. The adapter of 11, wherein the first connector interface includes the light collector.

13. The adapter of 11, further comprising a second light guide having a diameter larger than the first light guide, the second light guide optically coupled with the first opening of the light collector.

14. The adapter of 13, wherein the first connector interface includes a receiving lens that is optically coupled with the second light guide.

15. The adapter of 11, wherein the light collector is a parabolic concentrator.

16. A docking station comprising:

a recess for receiving an electronic device, the recess having a substantially planar bottom surface and having alignment features; and

a first optical connector having a receiving lens underneath the bottom surface of the recess, the receiving lens configured to receive optical signals from a second optical connector on a bottom of the electronic device, wherein the alignment features are configured to hold the electronic device in a first position such that the first optical connector and the second optical connector are adjacent to each other in the first position.

17. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the first optical connector includes an active optical component that converts the received optical signals into electrical signals.

18. The docking station of claim 17, wherein the active optical component is a photodiode.

19. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the bottom surface is opaque to visible light.

20. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the alignment features include four inner walls of the recess.

21. The docking station of claim 16, wherein the first optical connector includes a light collector having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, the first opening for receiving optical data signals, wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening.

22. The docking station of claim 21, wherein the light collector is a parabolic concentrator.