公开(公告)号：US11906793B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-20

申请号：US17435970

申请日：2019-03-26

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Cheng Tang ,  Shiwen Chen ,  Changbao Ma ,  Bing Hao ,  Boon K. Lee

IPC: G02B6/38 ,  G02B6/40

CPC classification number: G02B6/3885 ,  G02B6/3825 ,  G02B6/3897 ,  G02B6/387 ,  G02B6/3855 ,  G02B6/403

Abstract: An optical connector assembly (100) includes a housing (110), an optical ferrule (140); and an optical fiber array (150). The housing (110) has a mating end (111) and an opposite cable end (112) and includes: a first housing portion (120) including a front support (122) proximate the mating end (111) and a rear support (124) disposed between the front support (122) and the cable end (112); and a second housing portion (130) assembled to the first housing portion (120) and including a middle support (133) disposed between the front and rear supports (122,124). The ferrule (140) is supported by the front support (122). Front ends of optical fibers of the optical fiber array (150) are received by and attached to an attachment area of the ferrule (140). When the second housing portion (130) is assembled to the first housing portion (120), the middle support (133) of the second housing portion (130) contacts and bends the optical fiber array (150) about the middle support (133). The bend causes the optical ferrule (140) to rotate about the front support (122).

公开(公告)号：US11906786B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-20

申请号：US18102855

申请日：2023-01-30

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Michael A. Haase ,  Bing Hao ,  Changbao Ma ,  Terry L. Smith

IPC: G02B6/36 ,  G02B6/38

CPC classification number: G02B6/3636 ,  G02B6/3885

Abstract: A light coupling element including a groove and a light redirecting member is described. The groove is for receiving and aligning an optical waveguide and incudes an open front end and a back end. The light redirecting member includes an input side for receiving light from an optical waveguide received and supported in the groove and a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from the input side. The groove may include a bottom surface extending between the front and back ends of the groove and including a raised bottom surface portion raised upwardly relative to an unraised bottom surface portion. The unraised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface may be disposed between the raised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface and the input side of the light redirecting member. Optical coupling assemblies including the light coupling element and an optical waveguide are described.

公开(公告)号：US20230176291A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-08

申请号：US18102855

申请日：2023-01-30

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Michael A. Haase ,  Bing Hao ,  Changbao Ma ,  Terry L. Smith

IPC: G02B6/36 ,  G02B6/38

CPC classification number: G02B6/3636 ,  G02B6/3885

Abstract: A light coupling element including a groove and a light redirecting member is described. The groove is for receiving and aligning an optical waveguide and incudes an open front end and a back end. The light redirecting member includes an input side for receiving light from an optical waveguide received and supported in the groove and a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from the input side. The groove may include a bottom surface extending between the front and back ends of the groove and including a raised bottom surface portion raised upwardly relative to an unraised bottom surface portion. The unraised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface may be disposed between the raised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface and the input side of the light redirecting member. Optical coupling assemblies including the light coupling element and an optical waveguide are described.

公开(公告)号：US11592622B2

公开(公告)日：2023-02-28

申请号：US17851478

申请日：2022-06-28

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Michael A. Haase ,  Bing Hao ,  Changbao Ma ,  Terry L. Smith

IPC: G02B6/36 ,  G02B6/38

Abstract: A light coupling element including a groove and a light redirecting member is described. The groove is for receiving and aligning an optical waveguide and incudes an open front end and a back end. The light redirecting member includes an input side for receiving light from an optical waveguide received and supported in the groove and a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from the input side. The groove may include a bottom surface extending between the front and back ends of the groove and including a raised bottom surface portion raised upwardly relative to an unraised bottom surface portion. The unraised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface may be disposed between the raised bottom surface portion of the bottom surface and the input side of the light redirecting member. Optical coupling assemblies including the light coupling element and an optical waveguide are described.

公开(公告)号：US20230016658A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-19

申请号：US17786023

申请日：2020-12-08

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Changbao Ma ,  Alexander W. Barr ,  Daniel F. Cronch

IPC: G02B6/38

Abstract: An optical ferrule configured to move along a mating direction to mate with a mating optical ferrule. The optical ferrule includes an attachment portion for receiving and securing one or more optical waveguides. First and second engagement portions are formed integrally with the optical ferrule and spaced apart from each other along the mating direction. First and second engagement portions are formed integrally with the mating optical ferrule and spaced apart from each other along the mating direction. When the optical ferrule mates with the mating optical ferrule, the first and second engagement portions of the optical ferrule engage the respective second and first engagement portions of the mating optical ferrule. The engagement of the engagement portions of the optical ferrules prevents each of the optical ferules from moving relative to the other optical ferrule along at least mutually orthogonal first and second directions orthogonal to the mating direction.

公开(公告)号：US11237340B2

公开(公告)日：2022-02-01

申请号：US16822269

申请日：2020-03-18

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Changbao Ma ,  Alexander W. Barr ,  Daniel F. Cronch

IPC: G02B6/38

Abstract: An optical connector includes a housing having a resilient member and an optical ferrule. The optical ferrule includes a plurality of attachment areas for receiving and securing a plurality of optical waveguides and a light redirecting side for changing a direction of light received from an optical waveguide. The optical connector is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and secured in any of the attachment areas and light from the optical waveguide propagates along an optical path, the resilient member is not in the optical path. When the optical ferrule mates with a mating optical ferule, the resilient member is resiliently deformed to resiliently force the optical ferrule against the mating optical ferrule.

公开(公告)号：US20230393348A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-07

申请号：US18266043

申请日：2021-11-23

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Changbao Ma ,  James M. Nelson ,  Michael A. Haase

IPC: G02B6/38

CPC classification number: G02B6/3829 ,  G02B6/3854 ,  G02B6/3855

Abstract: An optical ferrule assembly includes a hybrid optical ferrule having a glass portion assembled to a polymeric portion. The polymeric portion includes a groove for receiving and supporting an optical fiber having opposing open front and back ends. A light redirecting member includes an input surface for receiving light from the optical fiber and a light redirecting side. The open back end of the groove and the input surface define a recessed region therebetween. The glass portion includes an optically transparent glass insert disposed in the recessed region conforming in shape to an internal shape of the recessed region. An optical fiber is received and supported in the groove. The optical fiber includes a fiber end laser welded to the glass insert so that a central light ray from the optical fiber propagates through the glass insert before being received and redirected by the light redirecting side.

公开(公告)号：US20230258894A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-17

申请号：US18015821

申请日：2021-07-01

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Changbao Ma ,  Thomas Suniga

IPC: G02B6/42 ,  G02B6/38

CPC classification number: G02B6/4292 ,  G02B6/3882 ,  G02B6/3885 ,  G02B6/3893 ,  G02B6/4214

Abstract: An optical connector includes a housing and an optical ferrule configured to move relative to the housing. The optical ferrule is configured to mate with a mating optical connector which includes a mating housing and a mating optical ferrule fixed relative to the mating housing. The housing includes at least one first engagement feature for engaging a corresponding first mating engagement feature of the mating housing. The optical ferrule includes an input surface for receiving and transmitting a central light ray from an optical fiber, and a light redirecting side for receiving the central light ray and redirecting it along a different second direction, until it exits the optical ferrule through an output surface. When the optical connector moves to a full mating position relative to the mating optical connector, the transition causes the optical ferrule to move relative to the housing.

公开(公告)号：US20230056995A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-23

申请号：US17798941

申请日：2021-02-04

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Changbao Ma

IPC: G02B6/38

Abstract: An optical ferrule (200) includes an input surface (10) for receiving and transmitting a central light ray (21) from an optical fiber (20) attached to the optical ferrule. A light redirecting side (30) receives, along a first direction (40), the central light ray (21) transmitted by the input surface (10) and redirects the received light along a different second direction (41). The redirected central light ray (23) exits the optical ferrule through an output surface (50) of the optical ferrule. As the central light ray (21) propagates in the optical ferrule from the input surface (10) to the output surface (50), the central light ray (21) propagates through distinct first and second portions (60,70) of the optical ferrule having different respective first and second compositions.

公开(公告)号：US20200278501A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-03

申请号：US16796420

申请日：2020-02-20

Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Inventor： Changbao Ma ,  Boon K. Lee ,  Bing Hao ,  Stephen Paul LeBlanc

IPC: G02B6/38

Abstract: An optical connector includes a housing with a bottom wall defining a window therein, and an optical ferrule disposed in the housing and comprising opposing major top and bottom surfaces. The major bottom surface of the optical ferrule faces the bottom wall of the housing. The major top surface includes a groove and a light redirecting surface configured to receive light along a first direction from an optical fiber received and secured in the groove, and redirect the received light along a different second direction. The redirected light exits the optical ferrule though the bottom surface and exits the housing through the window, such that, when the optical connector mates with a mating optical connector including a mating optical ferrule, the mating optical ferrule prevents any of the light exiting the optical ferrule from exiting the housing of the optical connector.