Dismountable optical coupling device

• US 8,905,651 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCI
• Original Assignee: FCI
• Inventors: Hermeline, Nicolas, Flers, Alain, Barlerin, Stephane, Stricot, Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, ELLEN E
• Application Number:
  US13/751,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20130195408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 385 88- 92, 298/32
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3628 for mounting fibres to supporting carriers G02B6/3608, G02B6/3616 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• 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 6/4239 Adhesive bonding; Encapsulation with polymer material
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.

Abstract

An optical communication system comprising: an optical circuit board comprising an optical interface having a transmission region, an optical coupling device comprising: a first optical interface having a first transmission region optically coupled to a corresponding transmission region of the optical interface of the optical circuit board, a second optical interface having a second transmission region adapted to be optically coupled to a corresponding transmission region of an optical interface of a mating optical device, a fixation part, wherein the optical communication system comprises a support element glued to the fixation part of the optical coupling device and removably mounted on the optical circuit board.

Claims

1. An optical communication system comprising:

an optical circuit board comprising an optical interface having at least a transmission region; and

an optical coupling device comprising;

a first optical interface having at least a first transmission region optically coupled to a corresponding transmission region of the optical interface of the optical circuit board;

a second optical interface having at least a second transmission region adapted to be optically coupled to a corresponding transmission region of an optical interface of a mating optical device; and

a fixation part; and

a support element having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the support element removably mounted on the optical circuit board such that the first end faces the optical circuit board,

wherein the fixation part is attached to the second end of the support element.

2. An optical communication system according to claim 1, wherein the support element comprises a central portion receiving the fixation part of the optical coupling device, and lateral portions cooperating with the optical circuit board.

3. An optical communication system according to claim 2, wherein the central portion of the support element has a U-shape cross-section.

4. An optical communication system according to claim 2, wherein the central portion of the support element has a L-shape cross-section.

5. An optical communication system according to claim 2, wherein the lateral portions of the support element comprise mounting tabs provided with mounting holes, the mounting holes cooperating with mounting organs secured on the optical circuit board.

6. An optical communication system according to claim 2, wherein the lateral portions of the support element comprise mounting lugs fitted into corresponding mounting grooves provided in the optical circuit board.

7. An optical communication system according to claim 1, wherein the support element comprises deformable portions adapted to compensate for thermal expansion of the support element, of the optical coupling device and of the optical circuit board.

8. An optical communication system according to claim 1, wherein the support element is made from metallic material.

9. An optical communication system according to claim 1, wherein the support element is made from plastic material.

12. An optical communication system according to claim 5, wherein the mounting organs are selected from the group consisting of screws, bolts, rivets, and studs.

13. An optical communication system according to claim 12, wherein the mounting organs non-adhesively cooperate with the mounting holes.

21. An optical communication system according to claim 1, wherein the fixation part is glued to the second end of the support element.

22. An optical communication system according to claim 21, wherein the second end of the support element comprises a gutter configured to receive the glue, and the fixation part is configured to extend into the gutter and into the glue when the gutter receives the glue.

10. An optical communication system comprising:

an optical circuit board having a first and second copper layers and a transmission region disposed between the first and second copper layers, the optical printed circuit board further comprising an optical interface having at least a transmission region; and

an optical coupling device comprising;

a first optical interface having at least a first transmission region configured to be optically coupled to a corresponding transmission region of the optical interface of the optical circuit board;

a second optical interface having at least a second transmission region configured to be optically coupled to a corresponding transmission region of an optical interface of a mating optical device; and

,

a fixation part,

wherein the support element is configured to be glued to the fixation part of the optical coupling device and removably mounted on the optical circuit board.

14. A support element according to claim 10, further comprising at least one lateral portion that extends from the support element, the at least one lateral portion comprising a mounting hole configured to receive a mechanical fastener.

15. A support element according to claim 10, further comprising an annular gutter configured to receive glue in order to fix the fixation part.

16. A support element according to claim 15, wherein the annular gutter has a substantially U-shape cross-section and a substantially rectangular shape.

11. A method for assembling an optical communication system comprising the steps of:

removably mounting a support element onto an optical circuit board,

dispensing liquid curable glue on a surface of the support element that faces away from the optical circuit board,

placing an optical coupling device over both the surface of the support element and the optical circuit board, and

curing the glue to fix the optical coupling device to the support element such that the surface of the support element faces the optical coupling device.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein removably mounting the support element on the optical circuit board comprises coupling the support element to the optical circuit board via mounting organs.

18. A method according to claim 11, wherein removably mounting the support element on the optical circuit board comprises non-adhesively mounting the support element on the optical circuit board.

19. A method according to claim 11, further comprising removing the support element from the optical circuit board.

20. An optical communication system comprising:

a support element having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the support element removably mountable on the optical circuit board such that the first end faces the optical circuit board, and

an optical coupling device including;

a first optical interface having at least a first transmission region;

a second optical interface having at least a second transmission region adapted to be optically coupled to a corresponding transmission region of an optical interface of a mating optical device; and

a fixation part configured to be attached to the second end of the support element, such that the first transmission region is optically coupled to a corresponding transmission region of the optical interface of the optical circuit board when the support element is removably mounted onto the optical circuit board.

23. An optical communication system according to claim 20, an optical circuit board.

24. An optical communication system according to claim 23, wherein the optical circuit board comprises tubes that are embedded in a body having a lower refractive index than the tubes.

25. An optical communication system according to claim 23, wherein the optical circuit board defines a cut-out in the form of a right parallelepiped and is defined by straight walls.

26. An optical communication system according to claim 25, wherein the cut-out defines an optical interface that comprises discrete light transmission regions arranged as a row.

27. An optical communication system according to claim 26, wherein the spacing between the transmission regions along a lateral direction is constant.

28. An optical communication system according to claim 26, wherein the spacing between the transmission regions along a lateral direction is not constant.