Michael A. Haase, St. Paul, MN (US); Terry L. Smith, Roseville, MN (US); Barry J. Koch, Florence, TX (US); Ding Wang, Austin, TX (US); and Alexander R. Mathews, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Aug. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/398,030.
Application 17/398,030 is a continuation of application No. 16/835,950, filed on Mar. 31, 2020, granted, now 11,119,282.
Application 16/835,950 is a continuation of application No. 16/202,190, filed on Nov. 28, 2018, granted, now 10,641,969, issued on May 5, 2020.
Application 16/202,190 is a continuation of application No. 15/278,093, filed on Sep. 28, 2016, granted, now 10,168,486, issued on Jan. 1, 2019.
Application 15/278,093 is a continuation of application No. 14/420,466, granted, now 9,482,827, issued on Nov. 1, 2016, previously published as PCT/US2013/059861, filed on Sep. 16, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/710,077, filed on Oct. 5, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2021/0373247 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
1. A light coupling unit comprising an attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to a plurality of optical waveguides and a light redirecting member such that light from the plurality of optical waveguides enters the light coupling unit from an input side of the light coupling unit, is redirected by the light redirecting member, and exits the light coupling unit through one or more optical lenses disposed at an output side of the light coupling unit along a direction different than a mating direction of the light coupling unit, such that during a mating between the light coupling unit and a mating light coupling unit that comprises a mating attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to a plurality of mating optical waveguides, the light coupling unit slides against the mating light coupling unit and when mated, the attachment area and the mating attachment lie in a same plane.
