ANGLED OPTICAL CONNECTOR

• Main Authors: NAGHSKI DAVID H, MENTZER MARK A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; Korean
• Published: 15.09.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS

PURPOSE: An angled optical connector is provided to change a transmitting angle of light with regardless of smallest radius of curvature. CONSTITUTION: An angled optical connector(10) optically couples received first and second optical blocks(12), each of which has an optical fiber embedded therein which terminates at an optical block end face. The connector(10) has corresponding first and second ports(14) and a reflecting surface(22). In one embodiment, each port(14) has a port optical block(16) which includes an optical fiber embedded therein which extends between and terminates at first and second port optical block end faces. The first port optical block end face is aligned with the corresponding received optical block end face such that the port optical block optical fiber as terminating at the first end face thereof is aligned with the corresponding received optical block optical fiber as terminating at the end face thereof. A lens(20) aligns with each port optical block optical fiber as terminating at the second end face of such port optical block(16) for collimating light exiting or entering such optical fiber. The reflecting surface(22) is aligned to reflect collimated light from the port optical block optical fiber of the first port(14) to the port optical block optical fiber of the second port(14). In another embodiment, each lens(20) aligns directly with the optical fiber of the corresponding received optical block(12). In a further embodiment, each lens is dispensed with such that light reflects directly from the first port optical block(16) to the second port optical block(16).