Electro-optic connector module
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A backplane electro-optical connector assembly, which comprises:
- a backplane having an optical signal carrier, the optical signal career carrying an optical signal in a first direction parallel to a surface of the backplane;
an actuatable connector fixture mounted on the backplane, the actuatable connector fixture providing an interface capable of receiving a daughter card;
a connector held by the actuatable connector fixture, the connector including an optical/electrical converter coupled to the optical signal carrier and a substrate having a plurality of electrical connection elements; and
the daughter card receivable by the interface of the actuatable connector fixture, the reception of the daughter card by the interface actuating the connector fixture to cause the daughter card to couple with the electrical connection elements of the substrate.
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Abstract
An electro-optical connector is described that provides a separable electrical interface for connecting to a circuit board. The optical connection between the fiber and the connector are semi-permanent. Also described is an electro-optical system that transfers signals between two circuit board over an optical fiber where the separable interface within the system is electrical rather than optical. Further described is a fixture with pivoting actuation and retraction for connecting a z-axis pressure mount connector to a circuit board.
73 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A backplane electro-optical connector assembly, which comprises:
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a backplane having an optical signal carrier, the optical signal career carrying an optical signal in a first direction parallel to a surface of the backplane;
an actuatable connector fixture mounted on the backplane, the actuatable connector fixture providing an interface capable of receiving a daughter card;
a connector held by the actuatable connector fixture, the connector including an optical/electrical converter coupled to the optical signal carrier and a substrate having a plurality of electrical connection elements; and
the daughter card receivable by the interface of the actuatable connector fixture, the reception of the daughter card by the interface actuating the connector fixture to cause the daughter card to couple with the electrical connection elements of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electro-optical connector assembly that provides communication between printed circuit boards where one of the printed circuit boards has an optical signal carrier, the electro-optical connector assembly comprising:
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an actuatable connector fixture, the actuatable connector fixture providing an interface capable of receiving one of the printed circuit boards;
a connector including an optical/electrical converter coupled to the optical signal carrier; and
the connector also including a substrate having a plurality of electrical connection elements, the reception of one of the printed circuit boards by the interface of the actuatable connector fixture actuating the connector fixture to cause the electrical connection elements of the substrate to couple with the printed circuit board;
wherein the actuatable connector fixture and connector are mounted on a common substrate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
a second actuatable connector fixture, the second actuatable connector fixture providing a second interface capable of receiving one of the printed circuit boards;
a second connector including a second optical/electrical converter coupled to the optical signal carrier; and
the second connector also including a second substrate having a second plurality of electrical connection elements, the reception of one of the printed circuit boards by the second interface of the second actuatable connector fixture actuating the second connector fixture to cause the second electrical connection elements of the second substrate to couple with the printed circuit board.
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16. The electro-optical connector assembly of claim 12, which further comprises driver electronics for the optical/electrical converter.
Specification