Parallel optical connector

This invention relates to connectors for establishing optical communication links and, in particular, optical connector systems for establishing optical communication links between a parallel array of optical light emitters and/or photodetectors and a parallel array of fiber optic cables.

In optical communication systems information is transmitted in the form of modulated light beams through an optical transmission medium such as an optical fiber. The optical signals are produced by a modulated light source which may, for example, be a LED or a laser, and are detected at the receiving end by photodetectors. The present invention is concerned with connectors where such light sources and/or photodetectors are coupled to optical fibers.

Advances in technology have resulted in light sources, photodetectors and optical fibers having relatively small cross-sections. It is therefore important when establishing a connection between such a light source or photodetector and an optical fiber that the fiber be correctly aligned with respect to the light source. Misalignment can result in attenuation of the power of the signal transmitted through the optical fiber or a complete break in communication.

Connectors for establishing a connection between light sources or photodetectors and fiber optic cables may involve an array of light sources or photodetectors and an array of optical fiber cable ends. The connector acts by aligning the arrays. Certain of these kinds of connectors establish connections between two arrays of light sources and photodetectors and two corresponding arrays of optical fiber ends. It has been found however that the manufacturing tolerances in producing such connectors result in misaligned arrays when the connection is established.

It is an object of the invention to address the aforementioned deficiencies.

In accordance with a first aspect, the invention provides an optical connector for establishing a connection for use in a fiber optic network, said connector comprising a plurality of optical coupling arrays, said arrays comprising light emitters and/or light detectors, or fiber optical cable ends, said arrays being arranged for movement relative to one another.

Relative movement of the arrays ensures that when an optical connection is established, all of the of the arrays may be properly aligned. This avoids loss or attenuation in signals which pass through the connection due to misaligned arrays.

The movement of the optical connectors may be provided by a void, or by appropriate flexible material surrounding the array.

Preferably, the connector includes registration element associated with each array to ensure that the corresponding array is properly aligned when a connection involving that array is made.

A further aspect of the invention extends to a connection system comprising at least two mating connectors, wherein one of said connectors includes at least two optical arrays mounted for movement relative to one another. The first connector may comprise optical arrays of lasers and/or photodetectors, and the second connector may comprise parallel arrays of fiber optic cables. The fiber optic cables may form part of a fiber optic ribbon cable.