OPTICAL CONNECTOR

• US 20160091678A1
• Filed: 01/15/2015
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, Derek W., Raff, John, Qian, Amy
• Granted Patent: US 9,453,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• 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: G02B 6/4295 coupling with semiconductor devices activated by light through the light guide, e.g. thyristors, phototransistors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections

Abstract

An electronic device having an optical connector that provides and/or receives optical signals through openings or perforations formed at an external surface of the electronic device. These openings can serve as the interface of the optical connector through which the electronic device can engage in one-way or two-way communication with corresponding optical connectors of other electronic devices. These openings can be sized such that they are not visible or not easily visible with the naked human eye. As such, these openings can be too small for communicating with corresponding optical connectors using any single one of these openings. But light that is collectively transmitted through or received through a group of these openings can provide optical signals that can be used to communicate with corresponding optical connectors using optical signals.

Claims

1. An electronic device that supports optical communication, the electronic device comprising:

a connector having a mating region that includes a plurality of openings, the mating region forming a portion of an exterior surface of the electronic device, the connector comprising;

an active optical component for at least one of transmitting or receiving optical signals, the active optical component positioned adjacent to the plurality of openings, wherein each of the plurality of openings is sized such that an amount of light passing through any single opening of the plurality of openings is insufficient for communicating with a corresponding connector using an optical signal; and

a lens positioned between the plurality of openings and the active optical component.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the active optical component includes a photodiode that converts electromagnetic radiation to electrical signals.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising a collector that extends between the active optical component and the lens, the collector configured to collect light and provide the light to the photodiode.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the active optical component includes a laser device that converts electrical signals to electromagnetic radiation.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the lens extends between the active optical component and the plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings are configured to carry optical signals transmitted by the active optical component.

6. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the laser device is an infrared laser device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the optical signals communicate data corresponding to at least one of state change information or a keystroke input.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings include between about 10 openings and about 80 openings.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of openings is between about 0.01 mm and about 0.4 mm.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the connector further includes a passive optical component disposed within one or more of the plurality of openings, the passive optical component configured to carry optical signals transmitted by the active optical connector.

11. An electronic device that supports optical communication, the electronic device comprising:

a housing having a mating region that includes an optical channel having a plurality of openings extending between exterior and interior surfaces of the housing;

a processor positioned within the housing; and

an optical connector positioned adjacent to the mating region, the optical connector including an active optical component operatively coupled to the processor and a lens positioned between the optical channel and the active optical component, wherein the optical component is configured to transmit and receive optical signals between the electronic device and a corresponding optical connector associated with a second device through the optical channel, and wherein each individual opening in the plurality of openings is too small to allow an optical signal to be communicated over the optical channel through the individual opening.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the active optical component is a transceiver.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the optical connector further includes a holding mechanism for mechanically retaining the corresponding optical connector in a mated position with the optical connector.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the optical connector further includes a magnetic element having poles positioned to generate a magnetic field that attracts the corresponding optical connector.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the electronic device is a host device, an accessory or a cable assembly.

16. A method of initiating optical communication between an optical connector of an electronic device and a corresponding connector of another electronic device, the method comprising:

activating an active optical component of the optical connector when an event is detected by the electronic device; and

at least one of transmitting or receiving optical signals using the active optical component, wherein the active optical component is positioned adjacent to a plurality of openings of the optical connector, wherein each of the plurality of openings is sized such that an amount of light passing through any single opening of the plurality of openings is insufficient for communicating with the corresponding connector using an optical signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the detected event is the optical connector being mated with the corresponding connector, wherein a sensor detects the mating.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the detected event is the electronic device waking from a sleep mode, wherein the active optical component remains activated until the electronic device returns to the sleep mode.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the detected event is an input received at the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the detected event is a determination made by the electronic device that a period of time has passed since the electronic device powered on.