Patent ID: 6470132
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: H04B,H04M

Abstract:
An optical hinge for providing an optical link between a first opto-electronic device capable of providing a light beam and a second opto-electronic device, said optical hinge comprising:a first optical component having a first mechanical engagement member, and a second optical component having a second mechanical engagement member for mechanically engaging with the first mechanical engagement member for rotation along a rotation axis, wherein the first mechanical engagement member has a first dense-rare boundary surface, and the first optical component has a first cavity for optically coupling the first optical component to the first opto-electronic device, so as to allow the light beam to be transmitted through the first cavity toward the first dense-rare boundary surface of the first mechanical engagement member, and wherein the second optical component has a second cavity for optically coupling the second optical component to the second opto-electronic device, and the second mechanical engagement member has a second dense-rare boundary surface forming a gap with the first dense-rare boundary surface where the first and second mechanical engagement members are mechanically engaged for rotation to allow the light beam to be transmitted through the first dense-rare boundary surface, the gap, and then the second dense-rare boundary surface of the second mechanical engagement member toward the second cavity in order to reach the second opto-electronic device at different rotation angles.