Patent · US Expired

Pluggable connectors for connecting large numbers of electrical and/or optical cables to a module through a seal

US5396573A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
6References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 1993
Grant dateMar 7, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 3, 2013

Classification

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

Abstract

Enables a large number of pluggable-array connectors to be used with a multi-chip module (MCM) by using a connector technique that does not require a significant amount of available surface area on a module. The array connectors provide a large increase in the input/output (I/O) capacity of a module. Each of the connectors has a receptacle supported by a frame around the module, and short flexible transmission lines connect the receptacle to the module. A plug connects a cluster (array) of external transmission lines, which may be optical and/or electrical transmission lines operating in parallel. Optical transmission lines may have optical/electrical transducers mounted on either the frame or module. Frame mounting of optical transducers with a connector receptacle enables a connector to transfer only electrical signals between the connector and the module, regardless of a mix of optical and electrical transmission lines to the same connector plug.

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