Patent ID: 9239433
Filing Date: 2016-01-19
CPC Classification: G02B

Claim Text:
1. An optical fiber connector comprising: a body extending along an axis, the body configured to receive a plurality of optical fibers, the ends of each fiber being axially spaced apart from each other; and a light and data management device supported by the body and comprising: a first gradient refractive index (GRIN) lens to: (i) receive a first light beam from one of the optical fibers; (ii) modify the first light beam to produce a substantially circular first light beam profile; and (iii) radially expand or contract the first light beam so as to be receivable by another optical fiber connector; a second gradient refractive index (GRIN) lens to: (i) receive a second light beam from one of the optical fibers; (ii) modify the second light beam to produce a second light beam profile; and (iii) radially expand or contract the second light beam so as to be receivable by the other optical fiber connector; and a pair of conductive concentric rings coaxially aligned with the GRIN lens; the GRIN lens transferring multiple channels of optical data to the other of the fiber optic connectors and the conductive concentric rings electrically transmitting data and power to a pair of corresponding concentric rings on another fiber optic connector.