US 9448367

US Patent 9448367, titled "Multi-channel optical transceiver module including dual fiber type direct link adapter for optically coupling optical subassemblies in the transceiver module," was issued to Applied Optoelectronics Inc. on September 20, 2016. The inventors are I-Lung Ho, Stefan J. Murry, and Che-Shou (Richard) YEH. The application for this patent was filed on October 15, 2015, under application number US14/883,970.

Abstract:
The patent describes a multi-channel optical transceiver that includes a multi-channel transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA), a multi-channel receiver optical subassembly (ROSA), and a dual fiber type direct link adapter. This adapter is directly connected to the TOSA and ROSA using optical fibers and is also designed to accept pluggable optical connectors, such as LC connectors, from external fiber-optic cables. The adapter thus serves as the optical input and output for the transceiver. This multi-channel optical transceiver can be utilized in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical systems, for instance, in an optical line terminal (OLT) within a WDM passive optical network (PON).

Independent Claims Overview:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a dual fiber type direct link LC adapter. It features an adapter body with two LC connector receiving areas at one end (the pluggable connector end) and two slots at the other end (the direct link end). The adapter includes two direct link connector assemblies, each designed to fit into one of these slots. Each assembly has an LC connector receptacle that extends into one of the LC connector receiving areas to allow optical coupling with an external LC connector. The other end of each direct link connector assembly is configured for mechanical coupling to an optical fiber. An adapter cover portion is provided to secure these direct link connector assemblies within their respective slots.

Legal Status and Dockets:
US Patent 9448367 is currently active. Litigation records associated with this patent indicate that a PTAB case, IPR2026-00019, was filed (and not instituted for procedural reasons). Additionally, multiple US cases related to this patent have been filed in the California Northern District Court, specifically 5:24-cv-08165, 4:24-cv-09041, 3:24-cv-09041, and 3:24-cv-08165. As of the current date (April 26, 2026), no specific dockets for US Patent 9448367 were found in the CAFC 2026 dockets via direct search.