FLEXIBLE LENSED OPTICAL INTERCONNECT DEVICE FOR SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION

摘要

The invention relates to a method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. The invention can be implemented in optical cassettes, patch panels, and patch panel enclosures. It may be used to replace patch cables in data centers and the like. It may be applied in virtually any optical interconnectivity application. In accordance with the invention, two or more optical components are optically interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber, the lens also embedded in the flexible optical circuit substrate. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving the optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device, such as the optical connectors at the ends of optical cables or at the interfaces of optical or electro-optical circuits. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without the need for mating connectors inside of the housing.