Title:
IN-LINE SHUFFLE MODULES UTILIZING THREE DIMENSIONAL OPTICAL CIRCUITS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2003016975
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A three dimensional optical circuit (200) featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is shown. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold that may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as stereolithography, fused deposition modeling, selective laser sintering, and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings (210) in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings (220) in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle. The optical manifold may be used in conjunction with a number of connections or terminations to form a various optical modules.
Inventors:
SIMMONS RICHARD L
SHOEMAKER CURTIS L
KORNELE KENNETH L
LODER HARRY A
LURIE EDWARD B
SHOEMAKER CURTIS L
KORNELE KENNETH L
LODER HARRY A
LURIE EDWARD B
Application Number:
PCT/US2002/022246
Publication Date:
May 30, 2003
Filing Date:
July 11, 2002
Export Citation:
Assignee:
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO (US)
International Classes:
G02B6/00; G02B6/38; G02B6/40; G02B6/43; G02B6/44; G02B6/04; G02B6/36; (IPC1-7): G02B6/44
Domestic Patent References:
| WO2000000344A1 | 2000-01-06 | |||
| WO1999045719A1 | 1999-09-10 | |||
| WO2000033117A1 | 2000-06-08 |
Other References:
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1999, no. 14 22 December 1999 (1999-12-22)
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 012, no. 396 (P - 774) 21 October 1988 (1988-10-21)
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 012, no. 396 (P - 774) 21 October 1988 (1988-10-21)
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