Multi-optical fiber connector module for use with a transceiver module and method for coupling optical signals between the transceiver module and multiple optical fibers

Abstract

A multi-fiber connector module for optical communications is provided that receives collimated beams of light from a transceiver module and focuses the collimated beams to respective focal points that coincide with the ends of respective transmit fibers. Because the inputs to the connector module are collimated light beams, movements of one or more parts of the connector and/or transceiver module will not result in optical losses as long as the movements are not so great as to prevent the collimated light beams from falling fully on the lenses of the optics system of the connector module. The lenses then focus the collimated light beams onto the ends of the transmit fibers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-optical fiber connector module comprising:
 a connector module housing having one or more locking mechanisms configured to interlock with one or more locking mechanisms of a transceiver module housing to place the connector module in locking engagement with a transceiver module; and 
 an optics system having one or more optical components configured to receive a plurality of light beams from a transceiver module when the connector module is in locking engagement with a transceiver module, each of the received light beams being at least substantially collimated, said one or more optical components focusing each of the substantially collimated light beams onto a respective end face of a respective end of one of a plurality of transmit optical fibers, wherein the respective ends of the transmit optical fibers are cleaved and the respective end faces are left in as-cleaved conditions such that each respective end face has a roughness and angle relative to a longitudinal axes of the respective transmit optical fiber that occurs when the respective ends are cleaved, and wherein the ends of the transmit optical fibers are secured to the optics system of the connector module; and 
 an epoxy material covering the end faces, the epoxy material having a refractive index that at least substantially matches a refractive index of the transmit optical fibers. 
 
     
     
       2. The multi-optical fiber connector module of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a strain relief mechanism configured to provide strain relief to the ends of the optical fibers from forces exerted on the fibers external to the connector module housing. 
 
     
     
       3. The multi-optical fiber connector module of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more passive alignment mechanisms configured to mate with one or more passive alignment mechanisms of a transceiver module such that when the connector module is in locking engagement with a transceiver module, said one or more passive alignment mechanisms of the connector module are mated with said one or more passive alignment mechanisms of the transceiver module and the optics system of the connector module is optically aligned with an optics system of the transceiver module. 
 
     
     
       4. The multi-optical fiber connector module of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of V-grooves formed in a base of the optics system of the connector module, each of the ends of the optical fibers being disposed a respective V-groove; and 
 a cover configured to connect to the base of the optics system, the cover having one or more protrusions on an inner surface thereof that press against the fibers when the cover is connected to the base of the optics system of the connector module. 
 
     
     
       5. The multi-optical fiber connector module of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more optical components of the optics system of the connector module are respective focusing lenses secured in the optics system, each lens receiving a respective one of the substantially collimated light beams, each respective lens focusing a respective one of the substantially collimated light beams to a respective focal point that corresponds with a respective end face of a respective end of a respective optical fiber. 
     
     
       6. The multi-optical fiber connector module of  claim 1 , wherein the optics system of the connector module further comprises:
 one or more optical components configured to receive light from one or more receive optical fibers and to focus the received light onto one or more respective receive photodiodes of a transceiver module connected in locking engagement with the connector module. 
 
     
     
       7. The multi-optical fiber connector module of  claim 6 , wherein said one or more optical components configured to receive and focus light from one or more receive optical fibers are respective focusing lenses. 
     
     
       8. The multi-optical fiber connector module of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more locking mechanisms of the connector module housing are configured to slidingly engage said one or more locking mechanisms of the transceiver module housing to interlock the connector module in locking engagement with the transceiver module, 
     
     
       9. The multi-optical fiber connector module of  claim 5 , wherein the portion of the optics system of the connector module in which the lenses are secured has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is at least substantially identical to a CTE of the portion of the optics system of the connector module to which the ends of the optical fibers are secured. 
     
     
       10. The multi-optical fiber connector module of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more passive alignment mechanisms of the connector module are two cone-shaped openings formed in the optics system of the connector module, the two cone-shaped openings formed in the optics system being shaped and sized to receive two cone-shaped protrusions located on a transceiver module housing, the two cone-shaped protrusions corresponding to said one or more passive alignment mechanisms of a transceiver module. 
     
     
       11. A method for coupling light beams output from a transceiver module that are at least substantially collimated onto end faces of ends of optical fibers secured to an optics system of a multi-optical fiber connector module, the method comprising:
 in an optics system of a multi-optical fiber connector module, receiving the substantially collimated light beams with one or more optical components of the optics system of the multi-optical fiber connector module; and 
 with said one or more optical components of the optics system of the multi-optical fiber connector module, focusing each respective one of the substantially collimated light beams to focal points on the respective end faces of the respective ends of the respective transmit optical fibers, wherein the ends of the fibers are cleaved and left in as-cleaved conditions such that each respective end face has a roughness and angle relative to a longitudinal axes of the respective transmit optical fiber that result when the respective ends are cleaved, and wherein the ends of the transmit optical fibers are secured to the optics system of the connector module, and wherein an epoxy material covers the end faces, the epoxy material having a refractive index that at least substantially matches a refractive index of the transmit optical fibers. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the transmit fibers are restrained by a strain relief mechanism that is configured to provide strain relief to the ends of the optical fibers from forces exerted on the fibers external to the connector module housing. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the connector module includes one or more passive alignment mechanisms configured to mate with one or more passive alignment mechanisms of a transceiver module such that when the connector module is in locking engagement with a transceiver module, said one or more passive alignment mechanisms of the connector module are mated with said one or more passive alignment mechanisms of the transceiver module and the optics system of the connector module is optically aligned with an optics system of the transceiver module. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of V-grooves formed in a base of the optics system of the connector module, and wherein the ends of the transmit optical fibers are disposed in respective V-grooves, and wherein a cover is connected to the base of the optics system, the cover having one or more protrusions on an inner surface thereof that press against the transmit fibers when the cover is connected to the base of the optics system of the connector module. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein said one or more optical components of the optics system of the connector module are respective focusing lenses secured in the optics system, each lens receiving a respective one of the substantially collimated light beams, each respective lens focusing a respective one of the substantially collimated light beams to a respective focal point on a respective one of the end faces of a respective one of the transmit optical fibers. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the optics system of the connector module further comprises:
 one or more optical components configured to receive light from one or more receive optical fibers and to focus the received light onto one or more respective receive photodiodes of a transceiver module connected in locking engagement with the connector module. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the portion of the optics system of the connector module in which the lenses are secured has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is at least substantially identical to a CTE of the portion of the optics system of the connector module to which the ends of the optical fibers are secured. 
     
     
       18. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 1, wherein the optics system includes a front end, a back end configured to receive the plurality of optical fibers and a recess disposed between the front end and the back end. 
     
     
       19. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 18, wherein the front end is substantially trapezoidal. 
     
     
       20. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 18, wherein the recess is substantially wedge-shaped. 
     
     
       21. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 18, wherein at least one opening is disposed at an upper surface of the back end to allow access to the plurality of optical fibers. 
     
     
       22. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 21, wherein a top cover is configured to be applied to the at least one opening, the cover having one or more protrusions on an inner surface thereof that are configured to restrict movement of the optical fibers when the cover is connected to the optics system of the connector module. 
     
     
       23. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 18, wherein the recess is configured to house the one or more optical components. 
     
     
       24. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 23, wherein the one or more optical components are a plurality of lenses. 
     
     
       25. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 24, wherein the plurality of lenses are arranged in a row. 
     
     
       26. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 1, wherein the optics system is in optical communication with the transceiver module. 
     
     
       27. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the optics system includes at least one opening configured to engage with the transceiver module. 
     
     
       28. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 1, wherein a surface area of at least one of the collimated light beams is smaller than a surface area of an optical component that collects the collimated light beams. 
     
     
       29. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 1, wherein a portion of the collimated light beams is redirected to at least one reflective lens in a feedback mechanism configured to maintain a target output power of a plurality of laser diodes disposed within the transceiver module. 
     
     
       30. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 1, wherein a portion of the collimated light beams is redirected to at least one reflective lens in a feedback mechanism configured to maintain an average output power of a plurality of laser diodes disposed within the transceiver module. 
     
     
       31. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 1, further comprising a grating element configured to pass the collimated light beams to the one or more optical components or to redirect a portion of the collimated lights beam to at least one reflective lens, the at least one reflective lens configured to focus the collimated light beams and to pass the collimated light beams to a photodiode of the transceiver module. 
     
     
       32. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 1, wherein the transceiver module includes a laser diode and one or more optical components configured to receive a plurality of light beams from the laser diode and substantially collimate the light beams. 
     
     
       33. The multi-optical fiber connector module of claim 32, wherein the one or more optical components are a plurality of ball lenses.