James N Kruchowski

US Patent:

8540434, Sep 24, 2013

Filed:

Jan 15, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/143997

Inventors:

James N. Kruchowski - Rochester MN, US
Vladimir Sokolov - Rocheser MN, US
Mark A. Nelson - Oronoco MN, US

Assignee:

MAYO Foundation for Medical Education and Research - Rochester MN

International Classification:

G02B 6/38
G02B 6/26
G02B 6/10

US Classification:

385 56, 385 39, 385 50, 385 53, 385 55, 385129

Abstract:

A connector assembly for optically coupling a first optical device mounted on a first substrate to a second optical device mounted on a second substrate, where the first and second substrates are orthogonally oriented to each other, is presented. The connector assembly includes two connectors. The first connector has an optical waveguide array. The optical waveguide array further includes multiple parallel optical waveguides that are continuously redirected by a mirror oriented at a 45 degree angle to the optical waveguides. Likewise, the second connector also has an optical waveguide array further include multiple parallel optical waveguides continuously redirected by a mirror oriented at a 45 degree angle to the optical waveguides. The first connector is oriented orthogonally to the second connector and the first and second connectors are optically welded together in a back-to-back configuration.

US Patent:

20130202292, Aug 8, 2013

Filed:

Jan 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/522520

Inventors:

Vladimir Sokolov - Rochester MN, US
James N. Kruchowski - Rochester MN, US
Mark A. Nelson - Oronoco MN, US
Nathan E. Harff - Rochester MN, US

Assignee:

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research - Rochester MN

International Classification:

H04J 14/02

US Classification:

398 34

Abstract:

In an n-node optical communications system, energy harvesting photodetectors at each node receive extraneous electromagnetic wavelengths that are not used for communication or other purposes by the associated node. The energy harvesting photodetectors convert the unused electromagnetic energy into reusable electrical energy. The harvested electrical energy may be used as auxiliary power at the node or elsewhere in the communication system, or stored in a battery, capacitor, or other energy storage device. The system may be used in an “all-to-all” broadcast and select communication scheme or in some other broadcast and select interconnect system that has extraneous wavelengths at node receivers.