Light bending devices

• US 5,708,743 A
• Filed: 04/16/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Simon, Donald, Heiney, Allan, DeAndrea, John Joseph, Wheeler, Richard Gregory, Delahanty, Francis Thomas, Reysen, Bill Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T. H.
• Application Number:
  US08/632,942
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 385/2, 385/8, 385/14, 385/33, 385/36, 385/88-94
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• 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 6/4214 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 6/4245 Mounting of the opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4261 Packages with mounting structures to be pluggable or detachable, e.g. having latches or rails
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4265 of the Butterfly or dual inline package [DIP] type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/428 containing printed circuit boards [PCB]
• 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 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/30107 Inductance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance

Abstract

Improved connectors for optically coupling a fiber optic transmission line and an opto-electronic device electrically interfaced to a substrate. The improved connectors include the opto-electronic device being mounted on the substrate, such as a printed circuit board, and means for mounting the fiber optic transmission line to the substrate such that the operative axis of the opto-electronic device is substantially not coincidental with the light transmission axis of the fiber optic transmission line. The connectors also require light bending means in operative optical association with said opto-electronic device for directing along the light transmission axis of the fiber optic transmission line at least a portion of the light emitted from said opto-electronic device or for directing along the operative axis of said opto-electronic device at least a portion of the light emitted from said fiber optic transmission line. Applicants have discovered that a connector provided in accordance with the present invention overcomes many of the difficulties associated with prior art connectors of this type.

Claims

1. A device for optically coupling a fiber optic transmission line to an optoelectronic device electrically interfaced to a substrate such that the operative axis of the optoelectronic device is substantially not coincidental with the light transmission axis of the fiber optic transmission line, the device comprising:

an optical sleeve having a first end and a second end with said optical transmission line disposed in said sleeve such that the light transmission axis of the fiber optic transmission line is substantially coincidental with an axis centered in said sleeve; and

a prism disposed in the light transmission axis adjacent said second end of said sleeve and optically coupled to said fiber optic transmission line and said optoelectronic device, said prism reflecting light from said optic axis in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optoelectronic device, said sleeve and said prism being a unitary piece.