Routing Light Between Fiber Cores Using Special Reflectors
This patent describes a fiber optic connector that uses tiny, specially designed reflectors called holographic Bragg gratings to precisely guide light signals from one optical fiber to multiple other fibers, even separating different colors (wavelengths) of light.
Original patent title: “Fiber optic connectors and connectorized fiber optic cables that include integrated photonic optical mode field converters and related methods”
This patent describes a fiber optic connector that uses tiny, specially designed reflectors called holographic Bragg gratings to precisely guide light signals from one optical fiber to multiple other fibers, even separating different colors (wavelengths) of light. Granted to Commscope Inc of North Carolina in 2023 with 22 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2041.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes an optical device that connects optical fibers using a pair of substrates (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). Each substrate has an alignment feature, like a groove (Claim 7), to hold an optical fiber. A key component is a holographic Bragg grating reflector on each substrate face (Claim 1). These gratings work together to direct light. For example, light from a first fiber's core travels through the second grating, then the first grating, to reach a specific core in a second fiber (Claim 1). This setup can also route different wavelengths (colors) of light from a single input fiber to different output fiber cores (Claim 4).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Optical connectors that do not use holographic Bragg grating reflectors.
- Systems that route light without involving two distinct substrates each bearing a grating as described in ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1.
- Connectors that rely solely on direct physical contact or simple lenses for light coupling, without the described grating-based optical path.
- Optical devices that do not separate or combine optical signals based on wavelength, as described in ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 4 and 5.
- Optical devices where the holographic Bragg grating is not positioned as described, such as lateral to alignment features with additional reflectors as in ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 11.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the precise, integrated arrangement of two holographic Bragg grating reflectors on opposing substrates to define specific optical paths between fiber cores. This allows for complex routing, including wavelength-dependent signal separation, within a compact connector.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
High-density fiber optic patch panels
Multi-fiber array connectors
Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) modules
Data center interconnects
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is important for creating compact and efficient fiber optic connectors, especially in applications requiring high data density. By precisely routing multiple light signals, potentially at different wavelengths, it can improve the capacity and flexibility of optical networks. This is crucial for data centers and telecommunications infrastructure that rely on advanced fiber optic cabling.
Filed
September 14, 2021
Granted
May 9, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Commscope Inc of North Carolina, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a major player in communication network infrastructure, developing various fiber optic solutions. Other companies in the fiber optic connector and component space, such as Corning, TE Connectivity, and Amphenol, are also active in developing advanced optical interconnect solutions that could leverage similar principles.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing development of higher-density and more versatile fiber optic connectivity solutions. By enabling efficient wavelength-dependent routing within a connector, it supports the increasing demand for bandwidth and the deployment of advanced multiplexing techniques in data centers and telecommunication networks, potentially reducing the physical footprint of optical hardware.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes an optical device that connects optical fibers using a pair of substrates (Claim 1). Each substrate has an alignment feature, like a groove (Claim 7), to hold an optical fiber. A key component is a holographic Bragg grating reflector on each substrate face (Claim 1). These gratings work together to direct light. For example, light from a first fiber's core travels through the second grating, then the first grating, to reach a specific core in a second fiber (Claim 1). This setup can also route different wavelengths (colors) of light from a single input fiber to different output fiber cores (Claim 4).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the precise, integrated arrangement of two holographic Bragg grating reflectors on opposing substrates to define specific optical paths between fiber cores. This allows for complex routing, including wavelength-dependent signal separation, within a compact connector.
What it does not cover
- Optical connectors that do not use holographic Bragg grating reflectors.
- Systems that route light without involving two distinct substrates each bearing a grating as described in Claim 1.
- Connectors that rely solely on direct physical contact or simple lenses for light coupling, without the described grating-based optical path.
- Optical devices that do not separate or combine optical signals based on wavelength, as described in Claims 4 and 5.
- Optical devices where the holographic Bragg grating is not positioned as described, such as lateral to alignment features with additional reflectors as in Claim 11.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$88K – $281K
Midpoint $176K · 14.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Sengupta, A. (2023). Routing Light Between Fiber Cores Using Special Reflectors (U.S. Patent No. 11,646,794). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11646794/fiber-optic-connectors-and-connectorized-fiber-optic-cables-that-include-integra
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Routing Light Between Fiber Cores Using Special Reflectors cover?
This patent describes a fiber optic connector that uses tiny, specially designed reflectors called holographic Bragg gratings to precisely guide light signals from one optical fiber to multiple other fibers, even separating different colors (wavelengths) of light.
Who owns patent US 11646794?
Commscope Inc of North Carolina owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 14, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11646794 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is important for creating compact and efficient fiber optic connectors, especially in applications requiring high data density. By precisely routing multiple light signals, potentially at different wavelengths, it can improve the capacity and flexibility of optical networks. This is crucial for data centers and telecommunications infrastructure that rely on advanced fiber optic cabling.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Optical connectors that do not use holographic Bragg grating reflectors.
Patent monitoring