Optical connector

US11119282B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Michael A. Haase · Saint Paul, US
• Terry L. Smith · Plainfield, US
• Barry J. Koch · Blaine, US
• Ding Wang · Austin, US
• Alexander R. Mathews · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 31, 2020
• Grant date: Sep 14, 2021
• Expiry date: Mar 31, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3897
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

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.