Patent Abstract:
A connector is disclosed. The connector includes a floating component to receive a first set of optical waveguides, and a fixed component to receive a second set of optical waveguides and to facilitate optical alignment between the first set of waveguides and the second set of waveguides through automated alignments with the floating component.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to fiber optic communication; more particularly, the present invention relates to coupling radiant energy from an external waveguide into a waveguide on an integrated circuit. 
   BACKGROUND 
   More frequently, optical input/output (I/O) is being used in computer systems to transmit data between system components. Optical I/O is able to attain higher system bandwidth with lower electromagnetic interference than conventional I/O methods. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention. The drawings, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of (cross section) fiber optic connector; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a floating side of a fiber optic connector; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of a floating side of a fiber optic connector; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a fixed side of a fiber optic connector; and 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of a fixed side of a fiber optic connector. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   According to one embodiment, a fiber optic communication mechanism is disclosed. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
   In the following description, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a computer system  100 . Computer system  100  is a blade server that includes a chassis  110  and blades  120 . In one embodiment, blades  120  are “hot-swappable” devices that are coupled to a backplane of chassis  110 . Each blade may be an independent server having one or more processors, an associated memory, disk storage and network controllers. 
   According to one embodiment, optical fibers are coupled to each of the one or more blades  120  at the backplane to facilitate optical I/O. In a further embodiment, a blind mate connector is included to couple an optical component on a blade  120  to the optical fibers at the backplane.  FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a blind mate connector  200 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , connector  200  includes a floating component  210  and a fixed component  220 . Component  210  is coupled to optical fibers  215 , while component  220  is coupled to fibers  225 . Components  210  and  220  of connector  200  enable precise optical alignment in circumstances where the initial alignment between two systems is coarse. For example, optical alignment between a blade being plugged into a backplane and fibers on the backplane would likely have a course alignment. 
   According to one embodiment, floating component  210  is mounted on a blade  120 , while fixed component  220  is mounted on the backplane. In a further embodiment, floating component  210  and a fixed component  220  provide for precise optical mating through successive self-alignments. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-section of one embodiment of floating component  210 . Meanwhile,  FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of a floating component  210 . The parts of component  210  include a precision ferrule  410 , springs  420  and  425 , floating piece  430  and case  435 . Ferrule  410  holds fibers  215  and includes alignment holes  414  for mating with the fixed component  220 . Springs  420  and  425  aid in the alignment process and provide for tight optical mating. Floating piece  430  helps in the coarse alignment and guides ferrule  410  into position for the fine alignment. Case  435  holds the entire floating component  210  assembly together. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of fixed component  220 , while  FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment fixed component  220 . The parts of component  220  include a precision ferrule  610  that holds fibers  225 . In addition, ferrule  610  includes mating pins  614  that mate with the ferrule  410  of floating component  210 . Further, component  220  includes a case  620  that holds ferrule  610 , as well as help in the coarse alignment of floating piece  430  of component  210 . 
   During operation of connector  200 , a chamfered edge of floating piece  430  of component  210  comes into contact with a chamfered edge of case  620  of component  220  as the two sides of connector  200  approach one other. As the components continue to move closer towards each other, the chamfer on case  620  moves floating piece  430  closer into alignment. 
   As floating piece  430  moves into position it will also move ferrule  410  of component  210  into alignment. Once floating piece  430  has bottomed out on case  620  the two ferrule pieces,  410  and  610 , will be close enough in alignment that a chamfer on alignment pins  614  in ferrule  610  will be able to guide the floating ferrule  410  into the final alignment position as connector  200  is plugged into its final position. 
   Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which in themselves recite only those features regarded as the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6