Optical interconnect

• US 6,619,858 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2000
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Huang, Dawei, Nettleton, Nyles, Davidson, Howard, Sze, Theresa, Lytel, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US09/575,418
• Time in Patent Office: 1,214 Days
• Field of Search: 385/89, 385/134, 385/135, 385/136
• US Class Current: 385/89
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections

Abstract

An optical interconnect is provided that optically connects two adjacent printed circuit boards, or electrical component. The optical interconnect includes a floating frame which is flexibly connected to one electrical component. The floating frame includes a plurality of optical guides. The optical guides are connected to the electrical component either electronically or optically. A second frame, coupled to a second electrical component also contains a plurality of optical guides. A mechanical guide assembly positions the first frame and the second frame are optically coupled. The optical guide in the second frame connects to the second electrical component providing a path for a signal from the first electrical component to the second electrical component.

Claims

1. An optical interconnect for optically connecting electrical components comprising:

a first frame having an axis of transmission and a plurality of first optical guides configured to facilitate optical transmission along the axis of transmission;

a flexible mounting assembly connected to the first frame and configured to couple to a first electrical component at a first internal surface, of said first electrical component;

a second frame having a plurality of second optical guides and coupled to a second electrical component, at a second internal surface, of said second electrical component, wherein said second internal surface faces said first internal surface; and

a guide assembly configured to align the plurality of first optical guides with the plurality of second optical guides along the axis of transmission, wherein the axis of transmission is substantially straight and runs substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first internal surface and a plane of said second internal surface.

2. The optical interconnect of claim 1,

wherein at least one of the first optical guides comprises: a tube aligned parallel to the axis of transmission and configured to receive a lens.

3. The optical interconnect of claim 2,

wherein the lens is a GRIN lens.

4. The optical interconnect of claim 3,

wherein the GRIN lens has a diameter, traverse to the transmitting direction, from about 0.25 mm to about 2.0 mm.

5. The optical interconnect of claim 3,

wherein, along the axis of transmission, the GRIN lens has a lens length less than a length of the first frame.

6. The optical interconnect of claim 3,

wherein the first frame includes a first surface and a second surface relatively perpendicular to the axis of transmission and the first surface is closer to the first electrical component than the second surface, and the GRIN lens is closer to the first surface than to the second surface.

7. The optical interconnect of claim 3, further comprising an optical element connected to the first electrical component and optically coupled to the GRIN lens.

8. The optical interconnect of claim 7, wherein an optical fiber connects the optical element and the GRIN lens.

9. The optical interconnect of claim 7, further comprising:

a flexible connector coupled to the first frame and configured adapted to connect to the first electrical component that connects signals between the first electrical component and respective optical guides and includes at least one optical fiber that connects the optical element and the GRIN lens.

10. The optical interconnect of claim 7, wherein the optical element is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).

11. The optical interconnect of claim 7, wherein the optical element is a photo detector.

12. The optical interconnect of claim 7, wherein the optical element comprises an active optical element and a surface lens.

13. The optical interconnect of claim 1, wherein the first frame comprises:

a plurality of tubes aligned parallel to the axis of transmission each having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion closer to the first electrical component than the second portion.

14. The optical interconnect of claim 13, further comprising an optical element disposed between the electrical component and the first portion and electrically connected to the electrical component.

15. The optical interconnect of claim 13, wherein the optical element is a VCSEL.

16. The optical interconnect of claim 13, wherein the optical element is a photo detector.

17. The optical interconnect of claim 13, further comprising a surface lens disposed between the optical element and the second portion.

18. The optical interconnect of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of second optical guides comprises:

a tube aligned parallel to the axis of transmission and configured to receive a lens.

19. The optical interconnect of claim 18, wherein the lens is a GRIN lens.

20. The optical interconnect of claim 19, wherein the GRIN lens has a diameter, transverse to the transmitting direction, from about 0.8 mm to about 2.0 mm.

21. The optical interconnect of claim 19, wherein the second frame includes a first surface and a second surface relatively perpendicular to the axis of transmission and the first surface is closer to the second electrical component than the second surface, and the GRIN lens is closer to the first surface than to the second surface.

22. The optical interconnect of claim 18, wherein, along the axis of transmission, the GRIN lens has a lens length less than a length of the second frame.

23. The optical interconnect of claim 18, further comprising an optical element coupled to the second electrical component and in optical alignment with the tube.

24. The optical interconnect of claim 23, wherein the optical element is a VCSEL.

25. The optical interconnect of claim 23, wherein the optical element is a photo detector.

26. The optical interconnect of claim 23, further comprising a surface lens disposed between the lens and the optical element.

27. The optical interconnect of claim 1, wherein the axis of transmission is relatively perpendicular to the first electrical component.

28. The optical interconnect of claim 1, further comprising a flexible connector coupled to the first frame and configured to connect to the first electrical component, connecting signals between the first electrical component and respective optical guides.

29. The optical interconnect of claim 1, wherein the first electrical component and the second electrical component are circuit boards mounted in a cabinet.

30. The optical interconnect element of claim 1, wherein the flexible mounting assembly includes at least one positioning member and at least one spring, wherein the positioning member and the spring move the first frame in a bias direction substantially parallel to the axis of transmission.

31. The optical interconnect element of claim 30, further comprising:

a base connected to the first electrical component, wherein the base has at least one cavity;

wherein the at least one alignment guide has at least one pin, wherein the at least one pin inserts into the at least one cavity of the base when the at least one positioning member and the at least one spring move the first frame in the bias direction substantially parallel to the axis of transmission.

32. The optical interconnect element of claim 1, wherein the axis of transmission intersects the first internal surface and the second internal surface.

33. An optical interconnect element comprising:

a frame having an axis of transmission and a plurality of optical guides, wherein the frame is connected to a flexible mounting assembly that is coupled to a first internal surface, of a first electrical component, wherein said plurality of optical guides are configured to facilitate optical transmission along the axis of transmission;

at least one alignment guide coupled to the frame, wherein the alignment guide is configured to align the plurality of optical guides on the frame along the axis of transmission with a plurality of second optical guides coupled to a second electrical component, wherein said axis of transmission is substantially straight and runs substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first internal surface and a plane of a second internal surface, of a the second electrical component, wherein said second internal surface faces said first internal surface.

34. The optical interconnect of claim 33, wherein at least one of the optical guides comprises:

a tube aligned parallel to the axis of transmission and configured to receive a lens.

35. The optical interconnect of claim 34, wherein the lens is a GRIN lens.

36. The optical interconnect of claim 35, wherein the GRIN lens has a diameter, transverse to the transmitting direction, from about 0.25 mm to about 2.0 mm.

37. The optical interconnect of claim 35,

wherein, along the axis of transmission, the GRIN lens has a lens length less than a length of the frame.

38. The optical interconnect of claim 35,

wherein the frame includes a first surface and a second surface relatively perpendicular to the axis of transmission and the first surface is closer to the first electrical component than the second surface, and the GRIN lens is closer to the first surface than to the second surface.

39. The optical interconnect of claim 35, further comprising an optical element connected to the electrical component and optically coupled to the GRIN lens.

40. The optical interconnect of claim 39, wherein an optical fiber connects the optical element and the GRIN lens.

41. The optical interconnect of claim 39, further comprising a flexible connector coupled to the frame and configured to connect to the electrical component that connecting signals between the electrical component and respective optical guides and includes at least one optical fiber that connects the optical element and the GRIN lens.

42. The optical interconnect of claim 39, wherein the optical element is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).

43. The optical interconnect of claim 39, wherein the optical element is a photo detector.

44. The optical interconnect of claim 39, wherein the optical element comprises an active optical element and a surface lens.

45. The optical interconnect of claim 39, wherein the frame further comprises:

a plurality of tubes aligned parallel to the axis of transmission each having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion closer to the electrical component than the second portion.

46. The optical interconnect of claim 45, further comprising an optical element disposed between the electrical component and the first portion and electrically connected to the electrical component.

47. The optical interconnect of claim 45, wherein the optical element is a VCSEL.

48. The optical interconnect of claim 45, the optical element is a photodetector.

49. The optical interconnect of claim 45, further comprising a surface lens disposed between the optical element and the second portion.

50. The optical interconnect element of claim 33, wherein the first electrical component and the second electrical component are circuit boards mounted in a cabinet.

51. An optical interconnect element comprising:

a first frame having a first plurality of optical guides and coupled to an electrical component; and

at least one alignment guide coupled to the first frame, wherein the alignment guide is configured to align an axis of transmission of each of the first plurality of optical guides to an axis of transmission of each of a plurality of second optical guides of a second frame, said axis of transmission of each of the first plurality of optical guides and the axis of transmission of each of the second plurality of optical guides are substantially straight and run substantially perpendicular to a plane of a first internal surface, of a first electrical component, and a plane of a second internal surface, of a second electrical component, wherein said second internal surface faces said first internal surface.

52. The optical interconnect of claim 51, wherein at least one of the first plurality of optical guides comprises:

a tube aligned parallel to the axis of transmission and configured to receive a lens.

53. The optical interconnect of claim 52, wherein the lens is a GRIN lens.

54. The optical interconnect of claim 53, wherein the GRIN lens has a diameter, transverse to the transmitting direction, from about 0.825 mm to about 2.0 mm.

55. The optical interconnect of claim 53, wherein, along the axis of transmission, the GRIN lens has a lens length less than a length of the second frame.

56. The optical interconnect of claim 53, wherein the first frame includes a first surface and a second surface relatively perpendicular to the axis of transmission and the first surface is closer to the electrical component than the second surface, and the GRIN lens is closer to the first surface than to the second surface.

57. The optical interconnect of claim 52, further comprising an optical element coupled to the electrical component and in optical alignment with the tube.

58. The optical interconnect of claim 57, wherein the optical element is a VCSEL.

59. The optical interconnect of claim 57, wherein the optical element is a photo detector.

60. The optical interconnect of claim 57, further comprising a surface lens disposed between the lens and the optical element.

61. The optical interconnect of claim 51, wherein the first frame is connected to the first internal surface and the second frame is connected to the second internal surface.

62. The optical interconnect of claim 61, wherein a path for an optical signal between the first frame and the second internal surface is substantially straight.

63. The optical interconnect of claim 51, wherein the first electrical component and the second electrical component are circuit boards mounted in a cabinet.