Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-27
2001-11-13
Bovernick, Rodney (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
C385S089000, C385S092000, C385S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315463
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,593 discloses a method for producing an optoelectronic female connector element for an optical male connector of an optoelectronic plug connector, in which a mounting block having alignment openings and ends of grooves on the end face facing the male connector is used to produce the female connector element. The grooves are provided in a configuration corresponding to the optical conductor ends of the optical male connector and extend as far as a pit in the mounting block. A component support having an integrated circuit and an optoelectronic component is located in the pit. When the configuration is inserted into the pit in the mounting block, the optical transducer elements of the optoelectronic component are aligned with the inner ends of the grooves which, after being filled with a suitable plastic, form optical conductors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method for the production of an optoelectronic female connector element, and an optoelectronic connector, which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art methods and devices of this general type, which can be carried out with comparatively little effort while achieving optimum coupling between the optoelectronic transducer elements in the female connector element and the optical components in the male connector.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for producing an optoelectronic female connector element for an optical male connector of an optoelectronic plug connector, which includes:
providing a mounting block having an end face with alignment pins projecting out from the end face and facing the optical male connector;
fitting a component support having an optoelectronic component with optoelectronic transducer elements to the end face of the mounting block;
guiding the mounting block toward an inner contact face of the optical male connector, with the alignment pins being inserted into alignment openings formed in the optical male connector;
electrically actuating the optoelectronic transducer elements of the optoelectronic component;
moving the component support on the end face facing the optical male connector to a position of maximum optical coupling to optical conductors of the optical male connector;
fixing the component support in the position of maximum coupling on the end face facing the optical male connector; and
encapsulating the mounting block with plastic.
In order to achieve the object in the case of the method of the invention, the optoelectronic female connector element is used, in which the mounting block having alignment pins is provided in a configuration such that the alignment pins project out of an end face of the mounting block facing the male connector. The component support having the optoelectronic component is fitted to the end face of the mounting module. The mounting block is guided with respect to the contact face of the optical male connector, with the alignment pins being inserted into alignment openings in the optical male connector. The optoelectronic transducer elements of the optoelectronic component are electrically actuated, and the component support on the end face facing the male connector is moved to a position with maximum optical coupling to the optical conductors in the optical male connector. The component support is fixed in the position of maximum coupling on the end face facing the male connector, and the mounting block is encapsulated with plastic with the component support in the fixed position.
A major advantage of the method according to the invention is that it can be carried out comparatively easily. This is due to the fact that the component support is fitted together with the optoelectronic component on the end face of the mounting block facing the male connector, so that there is no need for a pit in the mounting block, and no grooves are required in the block either. The mounting block in the method according to the invention is essentially cuboid. A further important advantage is that a plug connector with particularly good optical coupling can be obtained, since the component support of the female connector element is positioned on the mounting block, with respect to the male connector, during the production process such that a position of maximum optical coupling is achieved between the optoelectronic transducer elements in the female connector and the optical components in the male connector. The production process according to the invention is not continued and completed until the component support has reached this position on the mounting block, so that an optoelectronic plug connector can be obtained in this way which is optimally configured with regard to the optical coupling and with regard to the feasibility of mechanical connection.
When the method according to the invention is being carried out, an inner opening in the component support is pushed onto the pins. The component support is thus initially positioned, and a simplified production process is carried out.
When the method according to the invention is carried out, the mounting block is advantageously guided with respect to the contact face of the optical male connector, while maintaining a predetermined separation, in order to hold the component support such that it can be moved on the mounting block and can be optically optimally aligned with respect to the optoelectronic transducer elements in the female connector element. The predetermined separation can be achieved in an advantageous manner by using appropriately dimensioned spacing pieces or by spacing elements on the component support.
The component support is advantageously fixed in the position of optimum optical coupling on the mounting block by bonding, soldering or welding. An adhesive that is cured by light is advantageously used as the adhesive in this case.
In one advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the mounting block is encapsulated with a transparent plastic, at least in the region of the component support, thus producing external encapsulation. The encapsulation ensures protection against environmental influences and allows the light from the embedded optoelectronic transducer elements on the component support to reach the optical components in the male connector, when joined together.
During the process of encapsulating the mounting block, the mounting block is advantageously encapsulated with the plastic in a mold whose internal contour corresponds to the external contour of the male connector. For example, this allows recesses to be provided without any difficulties, in which locking catches of a latching device of the male connector can engage when joined together.
The invention furthermore relates to an optoelectronic plug connector having an optical male connector which, on its contact face, has ends of optical conductors as well as alignment elements located side by side. The plug connector further has an optoelectronic female connector element which, on its contact face, has alignment parts which interact with the alignment elements and is configured with the light receiving elements of its optoelectronic component aligned in the female connector element such that the light which emerges from the ends of the optical conductors falls on the light receiving elements.
Such a plug connector is described in Published, European Patent Application EP 0 699 932 A1. In this known plug connector, an optoelectronic female connector element has a mounting block whose end face facing the male connector is fitted with a component support having optoelectronic transducer elements; the component support is fitted with the mounting block to a printed circuit board. The mounting block has depressions in the sides to accommodate claw-like attachments on an optical male connector.
In order to provide the female connector element with a simple configuration for an optical plug connector while ensuring p
Bovernick Rodney
Greenberg Laurence A.
Infineon - Technologies AG
Lerner Herbert L.
Pak Sung
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