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公开(公告)号：US20240361535A1
公开(公告)日：2024-10-31
申请号：US18769865
申请日：2024-07-11
Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Inventor： Daniel F. Cronch , Sergio D. Carranza , Boon K. Lee , Michael A. Haase , Terry L. Smith
IPC: G02B6/38
CPC classification number: G02B6/3823 , G02B6/3885
Abstract: An optical connector comprises one or more optical cables disposed within a housing. Each optical cable includes an array of at least one optical waveguide and at least one optical ferrule attached to the array of optical waveguides. The housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion engaged with the first housing portion. The second housing portion comprises at least one carrier and one frame. The carrier and frame of the second housing portion are configured to support the one or more optical cables. The first housing portion and the second housing portion are configured such that mechanical engagement of the first housing portion with the second housing portion moves the carrier relative to the frame. Movement of the carrier relative to the frame causes a bend in each optical waveguide and rotation of each ferrule. The bend provides a predetermined spring force of the optical waveguides at a predetermined angle of the ferrule.
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公开(公告)号：US11585990B2
公开(公告)日：2023-02-21
申请号：US16977111
申请日：2019-03-14
Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Inventor： Michael A. Haase , Terry L. Smith
Abstract: An optical ferrule includes an optical coupling member with a light redirecting element that redirects input light from a waveguide toward an output window. The optical coupling member has a mating surface configured to slidably mate with a mating optical coupling member along a longitudinal axis of the optical ferrule. The optical ferrule also includes at least one stacking member along a longitudinal edge of the optical coupling member. The stacking member has a distal end extending beyond one of the mating surface and a top surface opposed to the mating surface. The stacking member also has a contact surface opposed to the distal end. The contact surface is configured to rotatably interface with a corresponding distal end of a of an adjacently stacked optical ferrule.
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公开(公告)号：US11579375B2
公开(公告)日：2023-02-14
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
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.
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公开(公告)号：US11573377B2
公开(公告)日：2023-02-07
申请号：US15763506
申请日：2016-10-03
Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Inventor： Michael A. Haase , Terry L. Smith
Abstract: A coupling unit includes a light coupling element comprising an attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides. One or more grooves are provided at the attachment area. Each groove is configured to receive an optical waveguide and defined by a bottom surface, a first region, a second region, and an opening. The first region is defined between the bottom surface and the second region. The first region in cross section has substantially parallel sidewalls separated by a spacing. The second region is disposed between the first region and the opening. A width of the opening is greater than the spacing.
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公开(公告)号：US11520110B2
公开(公告)日：2022-12-06
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
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.
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Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US11428872B2
公开(公告)日：2022-08-30
申请号：US17315819
申请日：2021-05-10
Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Inventor： Terry L. Smith , Barry S. Carpenter , Takayuki Hayauchi
Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.
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公开(公告)号：US11320603B2
公开(公告)日：2022-05-03
申请号：US16946817
申请日：2020-07-08
Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Inventor： Alexander R. Mathews , Terry L. Smith
Abstract: A multi-piece optical coupling device comprises a first piece that includes one or more first receiving elements configured to receive and secure one or more optical waveguides. The first piece further includes one or more light affecting elements configured to affect one or more characteristics of light from the optical waveguides while propagating the light within the optical coupling device. A second piece is separate from the first piece and includes one or more second receiving elements configured to receive the waveguides, the first receiving elements and the second receiving elements configured to align the second piece and the first piece using the optical waveguides. The second piece also includes one or more mating alignment features configured to engage with a mating optical coupling device and to align the optical coupling device with the mating optical coupling device.
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公开(公告)号：US11119282B2
公开(公告)日：2021-09-14
申请号：US16835950
申请日：2020-03-31
Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Inventor： Michael A. Haase , Terry L. Smith , Barry J. Koch , Ding Wang , Alexander R. Mathews
Abstract: A connector is disclosed that includes a housing and first and second attachment areas located in the housing and spaced apart from each other along the mating direction of the connector. The second, but not the first, attachment area is designed to move relative to the housing. The connector further includes an optical waveguide that is permanently attached to, and under a first bending force between, the first and second attachment areas. The connector also includes a light coupling unit located in the housing for receiving light from the optical waveguide and transmitting the received light to a mating connector along a direction different than the mating direction of the connector. The mating of the connector to the mating connector causes the optical waveguide to be under a greater second bending force between the first and second attachment areas.
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公开(公告)号：US11054588B2
公开(公告)日：2021-07-06
申请号：US16662563
申请日：2019-10-24
Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Inventor： Michael A. Haase , Alexander R. Mathews , Terry L. Smith
IPC: G02B6/38
Abstract: An optical ferrule adapted to receive and transmit light is described. The optical ferrule includes first and second alignment features for mating with corresponding alignment features of a mating optical ferrule. One of the first and second alignment features may be compressible or expandable.
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公开(公告)号：US11029468B2
公开(公告)日：2021-06-08
申请号：US16734634
申请日：2020-01-06
Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Inventor： Terry L. Smith , Barry S. Carpenter , Takayuki Hayauchi
Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.
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