Fiber optic circuit connector

• US 20040197054A1
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TTM Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Viasystems Group Incorporated (TTM Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tourne, Joseph A.A.M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,976,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/30 for use between fibre and thin-film device
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3829 Bent or angled connectors G02B6/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3873 Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections

Abstract

An optical connector for use in multilayer electro-optic circuit boards. An electro-optical back plane circuit board uses both electrical and optical connectors to carry signals in both electrical and light form. The optical connector employs redundant alignment features to provide for reliable connectivity between plug in boards and the electro-optic back plane. A process is of forming the back plane and other multilevel circuit boards so as to embed optical connectors is disclosed.

Claims

1. An optical connector for use with an electro-optical board, the optical connector comprising:

a right angle interface body having one or more first optical paths and one or more second optical paths, each of the first optical paths corresponding to a respective second optical path, wherein the first optical paths are disposed in a first plane and the one or more second optical paths are disposed in a second plane, the first and second optical planes being substantially at right angles with respect to one another;

a female self-alignment body having a tapered channel substantially aligned with the first plane; and

an anchor body adapted to securely engage an exterior surface of the female self-alignment body and adapted to anchor to a surface of the electro-optical board;

a tapered male self-alignment body sized to fit closely into the tapered channel of the female self-alignment body, and having one or more third optical paths adapted to align with the first optical paths when the tapered male self-alignment body is engaged with the female self-alignment body;

wherein the third optical paths are adapted for connection to one or more optical fibers disposed outside the electro-optical board, and

wherein the second optical paths are adapted for connection to optical fibers embedded in the electro-optical board.

2. An electro-optical back plane comprising:

a fiber management system formed of plural optical fibers;

an electrical bus circuit;

a board, wherein the fiber management system and the electrical bus circuit are embedded inside the board;

plural optical connectors disposed on the board, each of the plural optical connectors being coupled to one or more of the plural optical fibers of the fiber management system; and

plural electrical connectors disposed on the board, each of the electrical connectors being electrically connected to the electrical bus circuit;

wherein each of the optical connectors comprises;

a right angle interface body embedded into the board for connection to one or more fibers of the fiber management system;

an anchor body securely fastened to the surface of the board; and

a female self-alignment body having a tapered channel, wherein the female self-alignment body is held by the anchor body so that the tapered channel is in registration with

an upper surface of the right angle interface body.