Module and method for interconnecting optoelectronic cards

Details Module and method for interconnecting optoelectronic cards Module and method for interconnecting optoelectronic cards

2001-05-30

2003-06-24

Kim, Robert H. (Department: 2882)

Optical waveguides

With disengagable mechanical connector

C361S788000, C361S798000, C361S803000, C385S139000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06582133

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to modules for holding and interconnecting data communications cards, and in particular, to an interconnection module for holding and interconnecting optoelectronic cards, and to a method of interconnecting thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When several plug-in optoelectronic cards have to be interconnected according to a required connection scheme, there is a common practice to use a backplane to provide the connection point between the cards. A typical prior art interconnection module
1
is illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. A backplane
10
, having front and rear sides
12
and
14
respectively, has front side blind mate optical connectors
15
providing connection to the front side of the backplane, and rear side hand inserted optical connectors
18
providing connection to the rear side
14
of the backplane and extending outwardly from the rear surface as shown in FIG.
1
. Optical connectors
15
have adaptors
17
, which are formed on the front side
12
of the backplane
10
and face outwardly from the front side, and corresponding connector portions
16
carried by optoelectronic cards
22
and inserted in the adaptors
17
. Connector portions
16
or the adaptors
17
may optionally have floating features, which allow for required connection tolerances. Each one of the adaptors
15
and connector portions
16
may have one of the connector receptacle and connector plug to mate with each other and to receive the cards
22
as illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. The rear side
14
of the backplane
10
provides an interconnect from one card to another card through optical patch cords
26
which have corresponding fiber optic connector portions mating with rear side connectors
18
. Alternatively, instead of using patch cords, fiber optic strands may be laminated into the backplane in order to provide connection between the cards (not shown). Products matching these configurations are sold on the open market and represent the current prior art, see, e.g. “Interconnecting for Networking”, Catalog 1307515, issued 9-99, p. 675.
Thus, in order to connect two optoelectronic cards, a fiber optic connector is required on each card as well as on each end of the patch cord. When more than two cards have to be interconnected, it will require multiple optical connectors of different types on both sides of the backplane and a corresponding number of optical patch cords. Use of multiple patch cords results in ineffective utilization of space and makes the design of the interconnection module complicated and expensive. Additionally, the use of patch cords or laminated fiber strands causes substantial optical signal degradation due to the insertion losses through multiple connection points.
Accordingly, there is a need in the industry to develop an alternative interconnection module and method of interconnecting multiple optoelectronic cards which would be less complicated while more flexible and efficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide an interconnection module and method of interconnecting multiple optoelectronic cards, which would avoid or minimize the above-mentioned problems.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an interconnection module, comprising:
a midplane, having a front side and a rear side;
a coupling sleeve formed on the midplane, the sleeve having a front portion and a rear portion extending outwardly from the front side and the rear side of the midplane respectively and providing optical coupling between the front and rear sides of the midplane;
the front and rear portions of the sleeve receiving a front connector and a rear connector respectively so that the connector on each side of the midplane is arranged within the sleeve in one of the first and second positions, wherein in the second position the connector is being rotated approximately by 90 degrees with regard to the first position.
Preferably, the connectors are blind mate optical connectors having floating members to provide required connection tolerances. Depending on system requirements, the connectors may be single fiber connectors or multi-fiber connectors, and each of the front and rear connectors and front and rear portions of the sleeve may have one of the optical receptacle and optical plug selected so as to provide mating between the corresponding connector and portion of the coupling sleeve. Advantageously, the front and rear portions of the sleeve have same shape so that each portion of the sleeve is capable of receiving one of the rear and front connectors, thereby providing that the same connector can be connected on both sides of the midplane. Conveniently, the connectors and the sleeve may have a square or circular cross-section.
Beneficially, the front and rear connectors are carried by front and rear optoelectronic cards arranged on the front and rear sides of the midplane respectively, thereby providing that the cards are arranged on opposite sides of the midplane in one of the two positions, in the first position the front and rear cards being substantially parallel to each other, and in the second position the cards being substantially perpendicular to each other. Generally, a plurality of coupling sleeves may be arranged on the midplane so as to accommodate a plurality of optical connectors carried by optoelectronic cards and to provide connection between N cards on one side of the midplane and M cards on the other side of the midplane. In most practical situations N=1, . . . 20 and M=1, . . . 20. Conveniently, a plurality of coupling sleeves is arranged on the midplane so as to accommodate a plurality of optical connectors carried by N optoelectronic cards on one side of the midplane and M cards on the other side of the midplane and to provide connection between the cards so that each of the N cards on one side of the midplane is connected to a subset of cards on the other side of the midplane, for each of the N cards the number of cards in the subset being variable and less or equal to M in total. If required, the midplane and the cards may carry corresponding electrical connectors.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an optical midplane, comprising:
a midplane having a front side and a rear side; and
a coupling sleeve formed on the midplane, the sleeve having a front portion and a rear portion extending outwardly from the front side and the rear side of the midplane respectively and providing optical coupling between the front and rear sides of the midplane;
the front and rear portions of the sleeve being capable of receiving front and rear connectors respectively so that each connector is arranged within the sleeve in one of the first and second positions, wherein in the second position the connector is being rotated by approximately 90 degrees with regard to the first position.
According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a combination of a data shelf and a plurality of interconnection modules as described above;
the data shelf having stations provided for receiving and fixing the interconnection modules in the shelf.
According to still yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of interconnecting optoelectronic cards, comprising the steps of:
providing a midplane, having a front side and a rear side, and a coupling sleeve formed on the midplane for providing optical coupling between the front and rear sides of the midplane, the sleeve having a front portion and a rear portion extending outwardly from the front side and the rear side of the midplane respectively;
providing front and rear optoelectronic cards carrying front and rear optical connectors respectively;
inserting front and rear connectors into the front and rear portions of the sleeve respectively so that the connector on each side of the midplane is arranged within the sleeve in one of the first and second positions, wherein in the second position the connector is being rotated approximately by 90 degrees with regard to the fi

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