Patent · US Expired

Substrate-embedded pluggable receptacles for connecting clustered optical cables to a module

US5333225A · kind A · utility

72Cited by
8References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 1993
Grant dateJul 26, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 3, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/4232
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Obtains a large increase in the number of fiber optic inputs/output (I/O) lines connectable to a module by enabling edge connection of multiple clusters of optical fibers to be connected around a module. Each connector connects a cluster of optical fibers in a small dimension of space on the module. Many distinct pluggable connectors may be provided along one or more edges of a module. The optical-fiber cluster connectors are embedded in indentations around the edges of a multilayer glass/ceramic (MLGC) multi-chip module (MCM), which may be a thermal conduction module (TCM), containing an integrated photonic receiver and/or transmitter for each fiber. Each connector supports a large number of fibers from a single cable, and a large number of connectors may be provided in a single module. Easy plugging and unplugging is obtained for each connector without interferring with any existing cooling apparatus or I/O pins of the module. Receptacle and plug assemblies which hold the fibers in respective key V-grooves etched in silicon members which carry and interlock each fiber in each receptacle. Alignment and locking means is provided in each connector for aligning a plug's array of fibe…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.