Method for production of an optoelectronic female connector element, and an optoelectronic connector

• US 6,315,463 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CSI Technology Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Kropp, Jörg-Reinhardt
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAK, SUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/536,172
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 385/88, 385/89, 385/90, 385/91, 385/92, 385/94
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4231 with intermediate elements, e.g. rods and balls, between the elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4245 Mounting of the opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4253 by embedding housing components in an adhesive or a polymer material G02B6/4212 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4261 Packages with mounting structures to be pluggable or detachable, e.g. having latches or rails
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4274 Electrical aspects G02B6/4263 and G02B6/4265 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/428 containing printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

A method for producing of an electrooptical female connector element for an optical male connector of an electrooptical plug connector. In order to allow such a method to be carried out cost-effectively, a mounting module is used during the production of the female connector element. The mounting module is provided with alignment pins disposed on an end face, facing the male connector, in such a way that it corresponds to a configuration of alignment openings in the male connector. A component support having an electrooptical component with optical transducer elements is fitted on the end face of the mounting module, in a configuration corresponding to the optical conductor ends of the male connector. Once the male connector has been joined to the mounting module and the transducer elements have been actuated electrically, the component support is aligned to a position of maximum optical coupling. The component support is fixed in this position; a plastic encapsulation process is then carried out after removal of the male connector.

Claims

1. A method for producing an optoelectronic female connector element for an optical male connector of an optoelectronic plug connector, which comprises:

providing a mounting block having an end face with alignment pins projecting out from the end face and facing the optical male connector;

fitting a component support having an optoelectronic component with optoelectronic transducer elements to the end face of the mounting block;

guiding the mounting block toward an inner contact face of the optical male connector, with the alignment pins being inserted into alignment openings formed in the optical male connector;

electrically actuating the optoelectronic transducer elements of the optoelectronic component;

moving the component support on the end face facing the optical male connector to a position of maximum optical coupling to optical conductors of the optical male connector;

fixing the component support in the position of maximum coupling on the end face facing the optical male connector; and

encapsulating the mounting block with plastic.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises forming inner openings in the component support and pushing the inner openings over the alignment pins.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises fixing the component support to the end face of the mounting block by one of bonding, soldering and welding.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises encapsulating the mounting block with a transparent plastic, at least in a region of the component support.

5. The method according to claim 1, which comprises encapsulating the mounting block with a plastic in a mold whose internal contour is matched to an internal contour of the optical male connector.

6. The method according to claim 1, which comprises guiding the mounting block with respect to the inner contact face of the optical male connector while maintaining a predetermined separation between the mounting block and the optical male connector.

7. The method according to claim 6, which comprises placing spacing elements on the component support in order to maintain the predetermined separation.

8. The method according to claim 6, which comprises placing spacing elements between the mounting block and the optical male connector.

9. An optoelectronic plug connector, comprising:

an optical male connector having an inner contact face, optical conductors with ends located side by side disposed at said inner contact face, and alignment elements formed therein; and

an optoelectronic female connector element, including;

a mounting block having a contact face facing said optical male connector and alignment pins projecting from said contact face;

a component support disposed on said mounting block and surrounding said alignment pins;

an optoelectronic component with optical transducer elements disposed on said component support, said alignment pins interacting with and disposed in said alignment elements of said optical male connector aligned with said optical transducer elements of said optoelectronic component such that light emerging from said ends of said optical conductors falls onto said optical transducer elements; and

an encapsulation formed of an transparent plastic encapsulating said mounting block, said component support and said optoelectronic component.

10. The optoelectronic plug connector according to claim 9, wherein said transparent plastic has a high optical transmission in a spectral band of the light emerging from said ends of said optical conductors.