US 12,259,587 B2
Optical connector for photonic circuits
Francesco Testa, Pisa (IT); Alessandra Bigongiari, Pisa (IT); Luigi Tallone, Pisa (IT); Gabriele De Angelis, Pisa (IT); and Marco Romagnoli, Pisa (IT)
Assigned to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ), Stockholm (SE)
Appl. No. 17/909,897
Filed by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ), Stockholm (SE)
PCT Filed Mar. 9, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/056214
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 7, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/180303, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0094780 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/42 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/4214 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical connector for a photonic circuit, the optical connector comprising:
a first part, fixable to a photonic circuit, comprising a first slab of optically transparent material and a second slab of optically transparent material;
a first lens situated at an interface between the first slab and the second slab, the first lens having a focal point at a position of the photonic circuit, the first lens being configured to collimate light in the second slab; and
a second part, movable between a connected position adjacent the first part and a disconnected position removed from the first part, the second part comprising a third slab of optically transparent material and a fourth slab of optically transparent material, the third slab being adjacent to the second slab in the connected position;
a second lens situated at an interface between the third slab and the fourth slab the second lens having a focal point at a position of an optical element, the second lens being configured to collimate light waves in the third slab, the second lens being located to be in alignment with the first lens in the connected position; and
the optical element being configured to direct light between the second lens and at least one optical fiber.