Housing and mounting structure

• US 6,863,444 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2000
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, U.S.A., Inc. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Emcore Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Terrance T., Miller, Gregory V., Baca, Johnny R.F., Peterson, David W., Bryan, Robert P., Anderson, Gene R., Carson, Richard F., Armendariz, Marcelino G., Duckett, Edwin B. III, McCormick, Frederick B.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US09/749,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20050018972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/55, 385/56, 385/57, 385/62, 385/70, 385/75, 385 88- 94
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/421 the intermediate optical component consisting of a short length of fibre, e.g. fibre stub
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4269 with heat sinks or radiation fins
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4277 Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4281 the printed circuit boards being flexible in general H05K1/147
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4283 with electrical insulation means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4286 Optical modules with optical power monitoring
• 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: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

This invention relates to an optical transmitter, receiver or transceiver module, and more particularly, to an apparatus for connecting a first optical connector to a second optical connector. The apparatus comprises: (1) a housing having at least a first end and at least a second end, the first end of the housing capable of receiving the first optical connector, and the second end of the housing capable of receiving the second optical connector; (2) a longitudinal cavity extending from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing; and (3) an electromagnetic shield comprising at least a portion of the housing. This invention also relates to an apparatus for housing a flexible printed circuit board, and this apparatus comprises: (1) a mounting structure having at least a first surface and a second surface; (2) alignment ridges along the first and second surfaces of the mounting structure, the alignment ridges functioning to align and secure a flexible printed circuit board that is wrapped around and attached to the first and second surfaces of the mounting structure; and (3) a series of heat sink ridges adapted to the mounting structure, the heat sink ridges functioning to dissipate heat that is generated from the flexible printed circuit board.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting a first optical connector to a second optical connector, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having at least a first end and at least a second end, the first end of the housing capable of receiving the first optical connector, and the second end of the housing capable of receiving the second optical connector;

a longitudinal cavity extending from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing; and

an elastomeric pressure ring proximate to the first end of the housing and capable of generating an outward elastomeric force.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric pressure ring is capable of facilitating the connection of the housing to a mounting structure.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal cavity is capable of facilitating the alignment of the first optical connector and the second optical connector.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising alignment guides inside the longitudinal cavity of the housing, the alignment guides capable of aligning the first optical connector to the second optical connector.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising alignment wigs adapted to the second end of the housing, the wings capable of holding the second optical connector.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a cavity at the first end of the housing, the cavity functioning to house at least optoelectronic circuitry used in connection with the optical connector.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the cavity houses at least a portion of a flexible printed circuit board that is adapted to a mounting structure.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising tabs adapted to the first end of the housing, the tabs capable of mating with slots on a mounting structure.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising alignment pins adapted to the first end of the housing, the alignment pins capable of mating with pin-positioning holes on a mounting structure.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising pin-positioning holes adapted to the first end of the housing, the pin-positioning holes capable of mating with alignment pins on a mounting structure.

11. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising screws adapted to the first end of the housing, the screws functioning to mate with screw holes on a mounting structure.

12. An apparatus as in claim 1, farther comprising screw holes adapted to the first end of the housing, the screw holes functioning to mate with as on a mounting structure.

13. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first and second optical connectors are MT-type connectors.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1, where the first and second optical connectors are ferrules.

15. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the first and second optical connectors are MT-type ferrules.