Contactless Fiber Optic Connector Assemblies

• US 20140270790A1
• Filed: 04/25/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Bowen, Terry Patrick, Copper, Charles Dudley, McCarthy, Sean Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,432,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/117
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2575 Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections

Abstract

A contactless connector module includes first and second fiber optic connector assemblies. The first fiber optic connector assembly includes a first fiber optic cable and a first connector provided at an end of the first fiber optic cable. The first connector includes a first converter converting between optical and electrical signals and a first communication chip electrically connected to the first converter. The first communication chip is configured to transmit wireless RF signals. The second fiber optic connector assembly includes a second fiber optic cable and a second connector provided at an end of the second fiber optic cable. The second connector includes a second converter converting between optical and electrical signals and a second communication chip electrically connected to the second converter. The second communication chip is configured to receive the wireless RF signals from the first communication chip.

Claims

1. A contactless connector module comprising:

a first fiber optic connector assembly having a first fiber optic cable and a first connector provided at an end of the first fiber optic cable, the first connector comprising a first converter converting between optical and electrical signals and a first communication chip electrically connected to the first converter, the first communication chip being configured to transmit wireless RF signals; and

a second fiber optic connector assembly having a second fiber optic cable and a second connector provided at an end of the second fiber optic cable, the second connector comprising a second converter converting between optical and electrical signals and a second communication chip electrically connected to the second converter, the second communication chip being configured to receive the wireless RF signals from the first communication chip.

2. The contactless connector module of claim 1, wherein a data transmission path is defined between the first and second fiber optic cables, the data transmission path comprising the wireless RF signals between the first and second communication chips.

3. The contactless connector module of claim 1, wherein optical signals from the first fiber optic cable are converted to electrical signals by the first converter, the electrical signals being transmitted to the first communication chip, the first communication chip converting the electrical signals to RF signals and wirelessly transmitting the RF signals to the second communication chip.

4. The contactless connector module of claim 1, wherein the first fiber optic connector assembly converts optical signals to wireless RF signals, the first fiber optic connector assembly transmits the RF signals wirelessly to the second fiber optic connector assembly, and the second fiber optic connector assembly converts the RF signals to optical signals.

5. The contactless connector module of claim 1, wherein the second communication chip is configured to transmit wireless RF signals, the first communication chip being configured to receive the wireless RF signals from the second communication chip.

6. The contactless connector module of claim 1, further comprising a RF waveguide between the first communication chip and the second communication chip, the RF waveguide transmitting the RF signals.

7. The contactless connector module of claim 6 wherein the RF waveguide transmits the RF signals along a nonlinear path.

8. The contactless connector module of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises a housing having a mating end, the second connector comprising a housing having a mating end, the mating end of the second connector being mated with the mating end of the first connector, the wireless RF signals being transmitted within the housings of the first and second connectors.

9. The contactless connector module of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises a circuit board, the first converter being mounted to the circuit board, the first communication chip being mounted to the circuit board, electrical signals being transmitted between the first converter and the first communication chip along the circuit board.

10. The contactless connector module of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises a power transmitter, the second connector comprises a power receiver, electrical energy being transmitted wirelessly between the power transmitter and the power receiver.

11. A contactless connector module comprising:

a first fiber optic connector assembly having a first fiber optic cable and a first connector provided at an end of the first fiber optic cable; and

a second fiber optic connector assembly having a second fiber optic cable and a second connector provided at an end of the second fiber optic cable, the second connector communicating with the first connector via wireless RF signals.

12. The contactless connector module of claim 11, wherein a data transmission path is defined between the first and second fiber optic cables, the data transmission path comprising the wireless RF signals.

13. The contactless connector module of claim 11, wherein the first fiber optic cable transmits optical signals, the optical signals from the first fiber optic cable being converted to electrical signals by the first fiber optic connector assembly, the electrical signals being converted to RF signals by the first fiber optic connector assembly, the RF signals being wirelessly transmitted by the first fiber optic connector assembly to the second fiber optic connector assembly.

14. The contactless connector module of claim 11, wherein the first fiber optic connector assembly converts optical signals to wireless RF signals, the first fiber optic connector assembly transmits the RF signals wirelessly to the second fiber optic connector assembly, and the second fiber optic connector assembly converts the RF signals to optical signals.

15. The contactless connector module of claim 11, further comprising a RF waveguide between the first fiber optic connector assembly and the second fiber optic connector assembly, the RF waveguide passing the RF signals.

16. A contactless connector module comprising:

a first fiber optic connector assembly having a first fiber optic cable and a first connector provided at an end of the first fiber optic cable, the first connector having a housing extending between a cable end and a mating end; and

a second fiber optic connector assembly having a second fiber optic cable and a second connector provided at an end of the second fiber optic cable, the second connector having a housing extending between a cable end and a mating end, the mating end of the second connector being mated with the mating end of the first connector;

wherein a data transmission path is defined between the first fiber optic cable and the second fiber optic cable, the data transmission path comprising optical signals through the first and second fiber optic cables, the data transmission path comprising wireless RF signals through the first and second connectors.

17. The contactless connector module of claim 16, wherein data signals traveling along the data transmission path enter the housing of the first connector at the cable end thereof as optical signals and the data signals traveling along the data transmission path exit the housing of the first connector at the mating end thereof as wireless RF signals.

18. The contactless connector module of claim 17, wherein data signals traveling along the data transmission path between the cable end and the mating end of the housing of the first connector are electrical signals.

19. The contactless connector module of claim 16, wherein the first fiber optic cable transmits optical signals, the optical signals from the first fiber optic cable being converted to electrical signals by a converter of the first connector, the electrical signals being converted to RF signals by a communication chip of the first connector, the RF signals being wirelessly transmitted by communication chip to the second fiber optic connector assembly.

20. The contactless connector module of claim 16, wherein the first fiber optic connector assembly converts optical signals to wireless RF signals, the first fiber optic connector assembly transmits the RF signals wirelessly to the second fiber optic connector assembly, and the second fiber optic connector assembly converts the RF signals to optical signals.