公开(公告)号：US20220229242A1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-21

申请号：US17716052

申请日：2022-04-08

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Michael A. Haase ,  Alexander R. Mathews ,  Terry L. Smith ,  James M. Nelson

IPC: G02B6/38 ,  G02B6/36

Abstract: A unitary optical ferrule is molded to include one or more elements for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides one or more elements for affecting one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguide while propagating the light within the ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes one or more first alignment features and one or more second alignment features that, when the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, each controls alignment of the ferrule with the mating ferrule along three mechanical degrees of freedom. The surface of the optical ferrule can be divided along the thickness axis into a first section and an opposing second section, wherein the first section of the surface includes the receiving and securing elements, the light affecting elements, and the first alignment features and the second section of the surface includes the second alignment features.

公开(公告)号：US20220019032A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-20

申请号：US17490205

申请日：2021-09-30

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Michael A. Haase ,  James M. Nelson ,  Terry L. Smith

IPC: G02B6/38 ,  G02B6/42

Abstract: A first optical device is adapted to couple to a second optical device along a coupling direction and includes two spaced apart pairs of leading and trailing pads, such that when the first optical device lands and slides on a landing surface of the second optical device to optically couple to the second optical device, and for each pair of leading and trailing pads, the leading pad prevents any debris on the landing surface from collecting on the trailing pad. Upon full coupling of the first optical device with the second optical device, the leading pads do not make contact with the landing surface. The first optical device may be, for example, an optical ferrule or a cradle having a recess adapted to receive an optical ferrule.

公开(公告)号：US20220011522A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-13

申请号：US17483333

申请日：2021-09-23

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： James M. Nelson ,  Michael A. Haase ,  Terry L. Smith

IPC: G02B6/38

Abstract: A light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves.

公开(公告)号：US11150416B2

公开(公告)日：2021-10-19

申请号：US16840510

申请日：2020-04-06

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： James M. Nelson ,  Michael A. Haase ,  Terry L. Smith

IPC: G02B6/38

Abstract: A light coupling unit includes a first major surface comprising one or more substantially parallel first grooves oriented along a first direction for receiving one or more optical waveguides. A second major surface for slidably contacting a mating light coupling unit comprises an optically transmitting window for propagating an optical signal therethrough, and a region of second grooves and lands configured to capture particulate contaminants in the second grooves.

公开(公告)号：US11086083B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-10

申请号：US16064575

申请日：2016-12-22

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Alexander R. Mathews ,  James M. Nelson ,  Terry L. Smith ,  Michael A. Haase ,  Lars A. Smeenk

IPC: G02B6/38 ,  H01R13/453

Abstract: An optical connector (100) includes a housing (112) configured to contain one or more optical ferrules (121) disposed within the housing and accessible through an opening at a mating end of the housing. A cover (130) is disposed at the mating end, the cover configured to be rotated about a pivoting axis between a closed position an open position. An actuator (135, 136) is configured to cause the cover to rotate about the pivoting axis from the closed position to the open position.

公开(公告)号：US20210103106A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-08

申请号：US17247586

申请日：2020-12-17

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Michael A. Haase ,  Terry L. Smith ,  Alexander R Mathews ,  James M. Nelson

IPC: G02B6/38 ,  G02B6/32

Abstract: An optical cable subassembly includes one or more optical waveguides, at least light coupling unit comprising a first attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides, and at least one cable retainer comprising a second attachment area permanently attached to the optical waveguides and adapted to be installed in a housing. A length of the optical waveguides between the first attachment area and the second attachment area allows a bend in the optical waveguides that provides a predetermined mating spring force at a predetermined angle of the light coupling unit when installed in the housing.

公开(公告)号：US20200284996A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-10

申请号：US16064575

申请日：2016-12-22

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Alexander R. Mathews ,  James M. Nelson ,  Terry L. Smith ,  Michael A. Haase ,  Lars A. Smeenk

IPC: G02B6/38 ,  H01R13/453

Abstract: An optical connector (100) includes a housing (112) configured to contain one or more optical ferrules (121) disposed within the housing and accessible through an opening at a mating end of the housing. A cover (130) is disposed at the mating end, the cover configured to be rotated about a pivoting axis between a closed position an open position. An actuator (135, 136) is configured to cause the cover to rotate about the pivoting axis from the closed position to the open position.

公开(公告)号：US10746942B2

公开(公告)日：2020-08-18

申请号：US15758743

申请日：2016-10-11

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Michael A. Haase ,  Alexander R. Mathews ,  Terry L. Smith ,  James M. Nelson

IPC: G02B6/38 ,  G02B6/36

Abstract: A unitary optical ferrule is molded to include one or more elements for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides one or more elements for affecting one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguide while propagating the light within the ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes one or more first alignment features and one or more second alignment features that, when the ferrule is mated with a mating ferrule, each controls alignment of the ferrule with the mating ferrule along three mechanical degrees of freedom. The surface of the optical ferrule can be divided along the thickness axis into a first section and an opposing second section, wherein the first section of the surface includes the receiving and securing elements, the light affecting elements, and the first alignment features and the second section of the surface includes the second alignment features.

公开(公告)号：US10578884B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-03

申请号：US15812023

申请日：2017-11-14

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Joseph C. Carls ,  James M. Nelson ,  Charles N. DeVore ,  Dwight G. Baldwin

IPC: G02B5/30 ,  G02B27/28 ,  G02B27/14 ,  G02B27/10 ,  B29D11/00 ,  B26D3/06 ,  G03B21/20 ,  B32B38/00

Abstract: An optical component array and method of making an optical component array includes a plurality of optical components useful for projection devices or other optical devices.

公开(公告)号：US20180081191A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-22

申请号：US15812023

申请日：2017-11-14

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Joseph C. Carls ,  James M. Nelson ,  Charles N. DeVore ,  Dwight G. Baldwin

IPC: G02B27/28 ,  G03B33/12 ,  G03B33/06 ,  B26D3/06 ,  B29D11/00 ,  B32B38/00 ,  G03B21/20 ,  G02B27/14 ,  G02B27/10 ,  G02B5/30 ,  G02B5/04

CPC classification number: G02B27/285 ,  B26D3/065 ,  B29D11/00644 ,  B32B38/0004 ,  G02B5/04 ,  G02B5/30 ,  G02B5/305 ,  G02B5/3083 ,  G02B27/1006 ,  G02B27/1073 ,  G02B27/141 ,  G02B27/286 ,  G03B21/2013 ,  G03B21/2033 ,  G03B21/2073 ,  G03B33/06 ,  G03B33/12 ,  Y10T156/1064 ,  Y10T156/1082 ,  Y10T428/24612

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical component array and method of making an optical component array that can include a plurality of optical components useful for projection devices or other optical devices. The optical component array can be fabricated such that individual optical components having several elements can be assembled in a massively parallel manner and then singulated as individual optical components, and can result in a large reduction in manufacturing cost.