Electrical-optical/optical-electrical board to board connector

• US 7,114,859 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Fahllund, Jan H., Suomalainen, Tero O., Tuohimaa, Marko, Silvennoinen, Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): PALMER, PHAN T H
• Application Number:
  US11/141,842
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 385/41, 385/42, 385/56, 385 88- 94, 250/551, 257/81, 257/89, 257/100, 257/433, 257/434, 257/678, 361728-745, 361752-759
• US Class Current: 385/89
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3604 Rotary joints allowing relative rotational movement between opposing fibre or fibre bundle ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4245 Mounting of the opto-electronic elements
• 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 6/4277 Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/428 containing printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4284 of optical modules with disconnectable electrical connectors latching arms for electrical connectors H01R13/627
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

A connector pair formed of a receptacle having an inner cavity about which is arranged a plurality of contact springs each of which is coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of external contacts, and a plug having a plurality of contact pads upon an outer surface of the plug, and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) coupled to the plurality of contact pads and at least one optical fiber wherein a portion of the plug occupies a portion of the inner cavity such that at least one of the plurality of contact pads is coupled to at least one of the contact springs.

Claims

1. A connector pair comprising:

a receptacle comprising an inner cavity about which is arranged a plurality of contact springs each of which is coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of external contacts; and

a plug comprising;

a plurality of contact pads upon an outer surface of said plug; and

a signal converter coupled to said plurality of contact pads and at least one optical fiber;

wherein a portion of said plug occupies a portion of said inner cavity such that at least one of said plurality of contact pads is coupled to at least one of said contact springs.

2. The connector pair of claim 1 wherein said receptacle comprises a generally planar contact surface.

3. The connector pair of claim 2 wherein said contact surface is rectangular.

4. The connector pair of claim 3 wherein said receptacle comprises a first edge and an opposing second edge, a first sidewall extending from said first side, and a second sidewall extending from said second edge.

5. The connector pair of claim 4 wherein said plurality of contact springs are arranged upon said first and second sidewalls.

6. The connector pair of claim 1 wherein said signal converter comprises an electrical-optical (EO) converter.

7. The connector pair of claim 6 wherein said signal converter comprises a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and a VCSEL driver.

8. The connector pair of claim 1 wherein said at least one optical fiber extends through a wireless communication device.

9. The connector pair of claim 8 wherein said at least one optical fiber extends through a hinge of a wireless communication device.

10. The connector pair of claim 1 wherein said signal converter comprises an optical-electric (OE) converter.

11. The connector pair of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of external contacts is coupled to a printed wire board (PWB).

12. A method comprising:

transmitting a first electrical signal to a first receptacle coupled to a first plug comprising an EO converter, said first plug coupled to an optical fiber;

converting said electrical signal to an optical signal via the operation of said EO converter;

transmitting said optical signal over said optical fiber to a second plug comprising an OE converter and coupled to a second receptacle comprising a plurality of external contacts;

converting said optical signal to a second electrical signal via the operation of said OE converter; and

transmitting a feedback signal from said OE converter to said EO converter.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting said second electrical signal to said plurality of external contacts.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said feedback signal is utilized to control an operation of said EO converter.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting said second electrical signal to a PWB via said plurality of external contacts.

16. A method comprising:

transmitting a first electrical signal to a first receptacle coupled to a first plug comprising an EO converter said first plug coupled to an optical fiber;

converting said electrical signal to an optical signal via the operation of said EO converter;

transmitting said optical signal over said optical fiber to a second plug comprising an OE converter and coupled to a second receptacle comprising a plurality of external contacts;

converting said optical signal to a second electrical signal via the operation of said OE converter; and

transmitting said second electrical signal to said plurality of external contacts;

wherein transmitting said second electrical signal comprises transmitting said second electrical signal through a plurality of contact pads affixed to said second plug, to a plurality of contact springs coupled to said second receptacle, and to said plurality of external contacts.

17. A method comprising:

transmitting an optical signal to a plug comprising an OE converter via an optical fiber said plug coupled to a receptacle;

converting said optical signal to an electrical signal via the operation of said EO converter;

transmitting a feedback signal from said OE converter to said EO converter; and

transmitting said electrical signal to said receptacle.

18. A method comprising:

transmitting an electrical signal to a receptacle via a plurality of external contacts coupled to said receptacle said receptacle coupled to a plug comprising an EO converter;

utilizing a feedback signal to convert said electrical signal to an optical signal via the operation of said EO converter; and

transmitting an optical signal through at least one optical fiber.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a first connector pair comprising a first plug comprising an EO converter coupled to a first receptacle;

a second connector pair comprising a second plug comprising an OE converter coupled to a second receptacle;

an optical fiber coupled to said first and second plug for transmitting an output of said EO converter as an input to said OE converter; and

a feedback loop coupled to said first plug and said second plug.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said EO converter comprises a VCSEL.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said EO converter comprises a VCSEL driver.