Optical fiber coupling device and optoelectronic system utilizing same

• US 5,329,604 A
• Filed: 02/11/1993
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Howe, David B., Kellerman, Thomas B., Baldwin, Clark F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US08/016,368
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 385/88-93, 385/69, 385/70, 385/72
• US Class Current: 385/92
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/4297 having protection means, e.g. protecting humans against accidental exposure to harmful laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

An optoelectronic system including an optoelectronic assembly for receiving and/or transmitting optical data signals, optic means for being optically coupled to the optoelectronic assembly, and an optical fiber coupling device for coupling the optic means and at least one of the optoelectronic devices which form part of the assembly. The coupling device includes a housing for being positioned adjacent the assembly relative to the optoelectronic device and, significantly, latching means movably positioned within the housing for initially engaging the optoelectronic device and thereafter for engaging the incoming optic means (e.g., optical fiber connector) when the optic means is positioned within the coupling device'"'"'s housing. Keying and shutter means are also provided as part of the coupling device.

Claims

1. An optical fiber coupling device for coupling optic means and at least one optoelectronic device of an optoelectronic assembly, said coupling device comprising:

a housing adapted for being located adjacent said optoelectronic assembly relative to said optoelectronic device, said housing defining at least one chamber therein adapted for having said optic means positioned therein; and

latching means movably positioned within said housing relative to said chamber, said latching means adapted for initially engaging said optoelectronic device to thereby assume a relatively fixed position within said housing, said latching means thereafter adapted for engaging said optic means to retain said optic means within said chamber in optical alignment with said optoelectronic device.

4. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein said latching means includes a pair of protruding latch arms, each of said arms adapted for latching onto a respective side of said optic means to provide said retention thereof within said chamber.

5. The coupling device of claim 4 wherein said latching means includes a base portion and said housing includes a slot therein, said base portion movably positioned within said slot.

6. The coupling device of claim 5 wherein said base portion of said latching means includes an opening therein, said opening adapted for receiving an end of said optoelectronic device therein during said engaging of said device by said latching means.

7. The coupling device of claim 1 further including keying means positioned within said housing adjacent said chamber for allowing said optic means to be positioned within said chamber and for preventing other optic means from being so positioned.

8. The coupling device of claim 7 wherein said keying means comprises a key member and said housing includes an aperture therein, said key member being positioned within said aperture.

2. The coupling device of claim I further including means for securing said housing to a printed circuit board such that said housing will be located adjacent said optoelectronic assembly, said means for securing comprising at least one retention screw adapted for passing through said printed circuit board to engage said housing.

3. The coupling device of claim 2 wherein said housing includes a hole therein, said retention screw projecting within said hole.

9. The coupling device of claim I further including shutter means within said chamber for blocking the optical output from said optoelectronic device from passing from said coupling device when said optic means is not positioned within said chamber.

10. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein said shutter means comprises a spring for being positioned within or secured to said housing and at least one movable shutter member, said spring biasing said shutter member to a position whereby said shutter member will block said optical output from said optoelectronic device.

11. An optoelectronic system for use in an information handling system, said optoelectronic system comprising:

an optoelectronic assembly for receiving and/or transmitting optical data signals;

optic means for being optically coupled to said optoelectronic assembly for having said optical data signals pass therethrough; and

an optical fiber coupling device for coupling said optic means and at least one optoelectronic device of said optoelectronic assembly, said coupling device including a housing adapted for being located adjacent said optoelectronic assembly relative to said optoelectronic device, said housing defining at least one chamber therein adapted for having said optic means positioned therein, and latching means movably positioned within said housing relative to said chamber, said latching means adapted for initially engaging said optoelectronic device to thereby assume a relatively fixed position within said housing, said latching means thereafter adapted for engaging said optic means to retain said optic means within said chamber in optical alignment with said optoelectronic device.

12. The optoelectronic system of claim 11 wherein said optoelectronic assembly includes a pair of said optoelectronic devices spacedly positioned therein.

13. The optoelectronic system of claim 12 wherein a first of said optoelectronic devices is adapted for receiving electrical data signals and for converting said received electrical data signals to optical data signals.

14. The optoelectronic system of claim 13 wherein a second of said optoelectronic devices is adapted for receiving optical data signals and for converting said received optical data signals to electrical data signals.

15. The optoelectronic system of claim 11 further including an electrical circuit member, said optoelectronic assembly being electrically coupled to said electrical circuit member.

16. The optoelectronic system of claim 11 wherein said optic means comprises a duplex optical connector.

17. The optoelectronic system of claim 11 wherein said optic means comprises a pair of optical connectors.

18. The optoelectronic system of claim 11 further including means for securing said housing to a printed circuit board such that said housing will be located adjacent said optoelectronic assembly, said means for securing comprising at least one retention screw adapted for passing through said printed circuit board to engage said housing.

19. The optoelectronic system of claim 18 wherein said housing includes a hole therein, said retention screw projecting within said hole.

20. The optoelectronic system of claim 11 wherein said latching means includes a pair of protruding latch arms, each of said arms adapted for latching onto a respective side of said optic means to provide said retention thereof within said chamber.

21. The optoelectronic system of claim 20 wherein said latching means includes a base portion and said housing includes a slot therein, said base portion movably positioned within said slot.

22. The optoelectronic system of claim 11 further including keying means positioned within said housing adjacent said chamber for allowing said optic means to be positioned within said chamber and for preventing other optic means from being so positioned.

23. The optoelectronic system of claim 22 wherein said keying means comprises a key member and said housing includes an aperture therein, said key member being positioned within said aperture.

24. The optoelectronic system of claim 11 further including shutter means within said chamber for blocking the optical output from said optoelectronic device from passing from said coupling device when said optic means is not positioned within said chamber.

25. The optoelectronic system of claim 24 wherein said shutter means comprises a spring for being positioned within or secured to said housing and at least one movable shutter member, said spring biasing said shutter member to a position whereby said shutter member will block said optical output from said optoelectronic device.