Fiber Optic Cable Interface

Abstract

Fiber optic cable jacks and plugs are provided. In one aspect, a cable is made from at least one length of fiber optic line having a first end and a second end. A first plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The first plug is shaped to engage a first jack housing. A second plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The second plug is shaped to engage a second jack housing. The mechanical bodies have inner walls that form an air gap cavity interposed between the microlens convex surface and an engaging jack optical interface.

1 . A fiber optic cable comprising:
 a cable section including at least one length of fiber optic line having a first end and a second end;   a first plug including a mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end, and a microlens integrally formed in the mechanical body to transceive light with the cable interface, the first plug being shaped to engage a first jack housing;   a second plug including a mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end, and a microlens integrally formed in the mechanical body to transceive light with the cable interface, the second plug being shaped to engage a second jack housing;   wherein at least a portion of the mechanical bodies are transparent in a range of light wavelengths between 650 and 1800 nanometers (nm); and,   wherein the microlenses are formed in the transparent portion of the mechanical bodies.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 1  wherein the first and second plug mechanical bodies have a form factor of an 8 Position 8 Contact (8P8C) plug mechanical body. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 1  wherein each microlens has a diameter in a range of about 1-3 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 1  wherein each microlens includes a convex surface for interfacing with a jack optical interface and a planar surface for interfacing with a cable end; and,
 wherein each cable end is formed in a focal plane of its corresponding microlens.   
     
     
         5 . The fiber optical cable of  claim 4  wherein the mechanical bodies form an air gap cavity interposed between the microlens convex surface and an engaging jack optical interface. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 5  wherein the air gap cavity has an air gap length in a range of 0.1 to 1 mm. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of fiber optic lines; and,   wherein the first and second plug mechanical bodies each have a cable interface and an integrally formed microlens associated with each fiber optic line.   
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 1  wherein the mechanical bodies are an injection molded plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . A fiber optic cable plug comprising:
 a mechanical body for engaging a jack housing, including:
 a cable interface to engage a fiber optic line end; 
 a microlens integrally formed in the mechanical body to transceive light with the cable interface; 
   wherein at least a portion of the mechanical body is transparent in a range of light wavelengths between 650 and 1800 nanometers (nm); and,   wherein the microlens is formed in the transparent portion of the mechanical body.   
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic cable plug of  claim 10  wherein the mechanical body has a form factor of an 8 Position 8 Contact (8P8C) mechanical body. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic cable plug of  claim 10  wherein the microlens has a diameter in a range of about 1-3 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic cable plug of  claim 10  wherein the microlens includes a convex surface for interfacing with an jack optical interface and a planar surface for interfacing with the cable interface; and,
 wherein the cable interface is formed in a focal plane of the microlens.   
     
     
         14 . The fiber optical cable plug of  claim 10  wherein the mechanical body forms an air gap cavity interposed between the microlens and an engaging jack optical interface. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic cable plug of  claim 14  wherein the air gap cavity has an air gap length in a range of 0.1 to 1 mm. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic cable plug of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a plurality of cable interfaces to engage a plurality of fiber optic lines; and,   a microlens integrally formed in the mechanical body and associated with each cable interface.   
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic cable plug of  claim 10  wherein the mechanical body is an injection molded plastic material. 
     
     
         19 . A fiber optic cable interface comprising:
 a cable section including a first fiber optic line having a first end and a second end;   a first plug including a mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end, and a microlens integrally formed in the mechanical body to transceive light between the fiber optic cable first end and a first jack optical interface in a first jack housing;   a second plug including a mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end, and a microlens integrally formed in the mechanical body to transceive light between the fiber optic cable second end and a second jack optical interface in a second jack housing;   a first jack including a housing with a laser source, and a microlens integrally formed in the housing to transmit light from the laser source to the microlens of the first plug, the first jack housing being shaped to engage the first plug mechanical body;   a second jack including a housing with a photodiode, and a microlens integrally formed in the housing to transmit light from the microlens of the second plug to the photodiode, the second jack housing being shaped to engage the second plug mechanical body;   wherein at least a portion of the first and second plug mechanical bodies are transparent in a range of light wavelengths between 650 and 1800 nanometers (nm);   wherein the first and second plug microlenses are formed in the transparent portion of the plug mechanical bodies;   wherein at least a portion of the first and second jack housings are transparent in the range of light wavelengths between 650 and 1800 nm; and,   wherein the first and second jack microlenses are formed in the transparent portion of the jack housings.   
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic cable interface of  claim 19  wherein the first and second plug mechanical bodies have a form factor of a 8 Position 8 Contact (8P8C) plug; and,
 wherein the first and second jack housings have a form factor of a 8P8C jack.   
     
     
         21 . The fiber optic cable interface of  claim 19  wherein each microlens has a diameter in a range of about 1-3 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         22 . The fiber optic cable interface of  claim 19  wherein each plug microlens includes a convex surface interfaced to the corresponding jack microlens and a planar surface interfaced to a corresponding cable end;
 wherein each plug cable interface is formed in a focal plane of its corresponding microlens;   wherein the first jack microlens has a convex surface interfaced to the convex surface of the first plug microlens;   wherein the second jack microlens has a convex surface interfaced to the convex surface of the second plug microlens; and,   wherein each jack laser source and photodiode is formed in a focal plane of its corresponding microlens.   
     
     
         23 . The fiber optical cable interface of  claim 22  wherein the first and second jack housings have walls with inner surfaces;
 the fiber optic cable interface further comprising:   air gap cavities interposed between each plug microlens convex surface and the engaging jack microlens convex surface, surrounded by the jack wall inner surfaces.   
     
     
         24 . The fiber optic cable interface of  claim 23  wherein the air gap cavities have an air gap length in a range of 0.1 to 1 mm. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The fiber optic cable interface of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a plurality of fiber optic lines;   wherein the first and second plug mechanical bodies each have an integrally formed microlens, and cable interface associated with each fiber optic line; and,   wherein the first and second jack housings each have an integrally formed microlens associated with each fiber optic line.   
     
     
         27 . The fiber optic cable interface of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a second fiber optic line having a first end and a second end;   wherein the first plug includes a cable interface to engage the second fiber optic line first end, and a microlens integrally formed in the mechanical housing to transceive light between the second fiber optic cable first end and a third jack optical interface in the first jack housing;   wherein the second plug includes a cable interface to engage the second fiber optic line second end, and a microlens integrally formed in the mechanical body to transceive light between the second fiber optic cable second end and a fourth jack optical interface in the second jack housing;   wherein the first jack includes a photodiode, and a microlens integrally formed in the housing to transmit light to the photodiode from the microlens of the first plug associated with the second fiber optic line; and,   wherein the second jack includes a laser source, and a microlens integrally formed in the housing to transmit light from the laser source to the microlens of the second plug associated with the second fiber optic line.   
     
     
         28 . The fiber optic cable interface of  claim 19  wherein the plug mechanical bodies and jack housings are an injection molded plastic material. 
     
     
         29 . A fiber optic cable jack comprising:
 a housing for engaging a plug mechanical body, including:   a contact to engage a printed circuit board (PCB);   an optic element selected from a group consisting of a photodiode and a laser, having a first interface connected to the contact and a second interface; and,   a microlens integrally formed in the housing and optically connected to the optic element second interface;   wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent in a range of light wavelengths between 650 and 1800 nanometers (nm); and,   wherein the microlens is formed in the transparent portion of the housing.   
     
     
         30 . The fiber optic cable jack of  claim 29  wherein the housing has a form factor of an 8 Position 8 Contact (8P8C) mechanical body. 
     
     
         31 . The fiber optic cable jack of  claim 29  wherein the microlens has a diameter in a range of about 1-3 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         32 . The fiber optic cable jack of  claim 29  wherein the microlens includes a convex surface for interfacing with a plug optical interface and a planar surface for interfacing with the optic element; and,
 wherein the optic element is formed in a focal plane of the microlens.   
     
     
         33 . The fiber optical cable jack of  claim 29  wherein the housing has inner walls forming an air gap cavity interposed between the microlens and the engaging plug optical interface. 
     
     
         34 . The fiber optic cable jack of  claim 33  wherein the air gap cavity has an air gap length in a range of 0.1 to 1 rum. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The fiber optic cable jack of  claim 29  further comprising:
 a plurality of contacts to engage a PCB; and,   a microlens, integrally formed in the housing, associated with each contact.   
     
     
         37 . The fiber optic cable jack of  claim 29  wherein the housing is an injection molded plastic material. 
     
     
         38 . A fiber optic cable interface comprising:
 a cable section including:
 a first fiber optic line having a first end and a second end; 
 a first plug with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end and transceive light between the fiber optic cable first end and a first jack optical interface in a first jack housing; 
 a second plug with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end and transceive light between the fiber optic cable second end and a second jack optical interface in a second jack housing. 
   a first jack including a housing with an optic element selected from a group consisting of a laser source and a photodiode, and a microlens integrally formed in the housing to transceive light between the selected optic element and the microlens of the first plug, the first jack housing being shaped to engage the first plug mechanical body; and,   a second jack including a housing with an optic element unselected from the group of optic elements and a microlens integrally formed in the housing to transceive light between the microlens of the second plug to the unselected optic element, the second jack housing being shaped to engage the second plug mechanical body;   wherein at least a portion of the jack housings are transparent in a range of light wavelengths between 650 and 1800 nanometers (nm); and,   wherein the microlenses are formed in the transparent portions of the jack housings.   
     
     
         39 . A fiber optic cable comprising;
 a cable section including at least one length of fiber optic line having a first end and a second end;   a first plug including a mechanical body shaped to engage a first jack housing, a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end, and a microlens, the microlens having a planar surface to transceive light with the fiber optic line first end, and a convex surface to transceive light with a first jack optical interface;   a second plug including a mechanical body shaped to engage a second jack housing, a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end, and a microlens, the microlens having a planar surface to transceive light with the fiber optic line second end, and a convex surface to transceive light with a second jack optical interface;   wherein the fiber optic cable first end is formed in a focal plane of the first plug microlens; and,   wherein the fiber optic cable second end is formed in a focal plane of the second plug microlens.   
     
     
         40 . A fiber optic cable plug comprising:
 a mechanical body for engaging a jack housing, including:
 a cable interface to engage a fiber optic line end; 
 a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface, the microlens having a planar surface to transceive light with the cable interface, and a convex surface to transceive light with a jack optical interface; and, 
   wherein the cable interface is formed in a focal plane of the plug microlens.   
     
     
         41 . A fiber optic cable interface comprising:
 a cable section including:
 a first fiber optic line having a first end and a second end; 
 a first plug including a mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end, and a microlens to transceive light between the fiber optic cable first end and a first jack optical interface in a first jack housing; 
 a second plug including a mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end, and a microlens to transceive light between the fiber optic cable second end and a second jack optical interface in a second jack housing; 
   a first jack including a housing with a laser source and a microlens to transmit light from the laser source to the microlens of the first plug, the first jack housing being shaped to engage the first plug mechanical body;   a second jack including a housing with a photodiode and a microlens to transmit light from the microlens of the second plug to the photodiode, the second jack housing being shaped to engage the second plug mechanical body;   wherein each plug microlens includes a convex surface interfaced to the corresponding jack microlens and a planar surface interfaced to a corresponding cable end;   wherein each plug cable interface is formed in a focal plane of its corresponding microlens;   wherein the first jack microlens has a convex surface interfaced to the convex surface of the first plug microlens;   wherein the second jack microlens has a convex surface interfaced to the convex surface of the second plug microlens; and,   wherein each jack laser source and photodiode is formed in a focal plane of its corresponding microlens.   
     
     
         42 . The cable interface of  claim 41  wherein each jack microlens has a planar surface for interfacing to its corresponding optic element. 
     
     
         43 . A fiber optic cable interface comprising:
 a cable section including:
 a first fiber optic line having a first end and a second end; 
 a first plug with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end and transceive light between the fiber optic cable first end and a first jack optical interface in a first jack housing; 
 a second plug with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end and transceive light between the fiber optic cable second end and a second jack optical interface in a second jack housing. 
   a first jack including a housing with an optic element selected from a group consisting of a laser source and a photodiode, and a microlens to transceive light between the selected optic element and the microlens of the first plug, the first jack housing being shaped to engage the first plug mechanical body; and,   a second jack including a housing with an optic element unselected from the group of optic elements and a microlens to transceive light between the microlens of the second plug to the unselected optic element, the second jack housing being shaped to engage the second plug mechanical body;   wherein the first jack microlens has a convex surface interfaced to the first plug and a planar surface for interfacing to the selected optic element;   wherein the second jack microlens has a convex surface interfaced to the second plug and a planar surface for interfacing to the unselected optic element; and,   wherein each jack laser source and photodiode is formed in a focal plane of its corresponding microlens.