Patent · US Expired

Raised rib waveguide ribbon for precision optical interconnects

US5974214A · kind A · utility

79Cited by
12References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 8, 1997
Grant dateOct 26, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 8, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/30
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention provides a waveguide connector assembly for the precision interconnection of mating arrays of parallel optical waveguides which are preferably photolithographically formed on substrates. The connector assembly has a base with several parallel channel walls cut along a surface of the base. A waveguide assembly is positioned on the base. The waveguide assembly comprises a substrate and several transparent, polymeric waveguides on and raised from a surface of the substrate. The waveguides have a polygonal cross section with flat edges. The waveguide assembly is positioned on the base such that each of the waveguides is set in one of the channels and contacts the walls of the channel at two or more points. A cover plate holds the waveguide assembly on the base.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.