Imaging interface for optical components

Abstract

The invention pertains to an optical interface employing optics (e.g., lenses) that image the beams rather than collimate the beams. More specifically, each connector at an interface includes optics, e.g., a lens, adapted to receive a diverging beam emanating from field point and image the beam to an image point at a predetermined distance from the imaging lens. A connector employing such optics may, for instance, be effectively mated to either a similar connector with the same optics or to a connector having no lens. Specifically, it may effectively be mated to a second connector having no lens via a second connector structure that places the receiving optical component at the image point of the focusing optics of the first connector. Alternately, such a connector may be effectively mated to a second connector having an identical lens to the first connector provided that the first and second connector structures are adapted to mate such that the image points of the two lenses are coincident.

1 . A method of coupling light from a connector to a mating optical component, said connector having an end face and defining a cavity at said end face, said connector holding at least one optical component with a light exchanging face, said connector holding a converging lens positioned between said light exchanging face and said end face, said method comprising:
 transmitting a light beam through said optical component such that it emanates from said light exchanging face;   imaging said light beam emanating from said light exchanging face to an image point using said converging lens, said point being positioned in said cavity at said end face; and   coupling said light beam from said converging lens to said mating optical component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mating optical component has a light exchanging face that is essentially disposed at said end face. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mating optical component has a light exchanging face that is disposed at a distance from said end face and wherein a second converging lens is disposed between said end face and said mating optical component. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said optical component is a fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said connector comprises a multi-fiber ferrule. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said ferrule comprises an MT-type ferrule. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said ferrule is a lensed ferrule comprising said converging lens. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said converging lens comprises a discrete lens for each optical component. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said converging lens comprises a refractive lens. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said optical component is an optical waveguide. 
     
     
         11 . A method of coupling light from a mating optical component to a connector, said connector having an end face and defining a cavity at said end face, said connector holding at least one optical component with a light exchanging face, said connector holding a converging lens positioned between said light exchanging face and said end face, said method comprising:
 receiving a light beam from said mating optical component, said light beam presented as an image point in said cavity at said end face; and   converging said light beam to a point on said light exchanging face using said converging lens.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said mating optical component has a light exchanging face that is essentially disposed at said end face. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said mating optical component has a light exchanging face that is at a distance from said end face and wherein a second converging lens is disposed between said end face and said mating optical component. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said optical component is a fiber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said connector comprises a multi-fiber ferrule. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said ferrule comprises an MT-type ferrule. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said ferrule is a lensed ferrule comprising said converging lens. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said converging lens comprises a discrete lens for each optical component. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said converging lens comprises a refractive lens. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said optical component is an optical waveguide.