# US 11,442,231 B2 · Airframe-integrated optical midplane > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,231 B2 - Document ID: US11442231B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/811,010 - Filed: 2020-03-06 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-06 - Assignees: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP - Applicants: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP - Inventors: Kevin B. Leigh; John R. Grady - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442231B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/1452: {Mounting of connectors; Switching; Reinforcing of back panels} - G02B 6/3814: {with cooling or heat dissipation means} - G02B 6/3825: {with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs} - G02B 6/3897: {Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence)} - H04Q 1/035: {Cooling of active equipments, e.g. air ducts} - H05K 7/20145: {Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides} - H05K 7/20736: {within cabinets for removing heat from server blades} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract An optical midplane includes an airframe having a first side on which first modules are disposed and a second side on which second modules are disposed. The airframe is to provide for optimized airflow through the first modules disposed on the first side. A plurality of optical connectors are disposed at respective locations on the airframe to provide optical connectivity. Optical connectivity is provided between at least one of any first module disposed on the first side of the airframe and any second module disposed on the second side of the airframe, any first modules disposed on the first side of the airframe, and any second modules disposed on the second side of the airframe. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical midplane, comprising: an airframe having a first side on which first modules are disposed and a second side on which second modules are disposed, the airframe to provide for optimized airflow through the first modules disposed on the first side with air flowing through shutters on an electrical midplane to which the airframe is coupled; and a plurality of optical connectors disposed at respective locations on the airframe, the second side of the airframe resting on the electrical midplane such that the optical connectors extend through the electrical midplane towards the second modules to provide optical connectivity between at least one of: any first module disposed on the first side of the airframe and any second module disposed on the second side of the airframe; any first modules disposed on the first side of the airframe; and any second modules disposed on the second side of the airframe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical midplane of claim 1, wherein the optical connectors disposed on the airframe are interconnected by optical fibers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical midplane of claim 1, wherein the optical connectors include ferrule-based connectors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The optical midplane of claim 3, wherein the ferrule-based connectors include at least one of a physical contact mechanical transfer (MT) ferrule, an air-gap MT, a lens MT and a duplex ferrule. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical midplane of claim 1, wherein the optical connectors include glass-based blindmate optical connectors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The optical midplane of claim 5, wherein the glass-based blindmate optical connectors include waveguides inscribed in glass. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The optical midplane of claim 6, wherein at least some of the waveguides have sloped surfaces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical midplane of claim 1, further comprising a tag disposed on the airframe to store information corresponding to a connection scheme of the optical connectors. ### Claim 9 An assembly, comprising: an airframe having a first side on which first modules are disposed in a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere and a second side on which second modules are disposed in the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere, the airframe to provide for optimized airflow through the first modules disposed on the first side with air flowing through shutters on an electrical midplane to which the airframe is coupled; a plurality of optical connectors, the second side of the airframe resting on the electrical midplane such that the optical connectors extend through the electrical midplane towards the second modules to connect: a first module disposed in the first hemisphere on the first side of the airframe to a second module disposed in the first hemisphere on the second side of the airframe; and the first module disposed in the first hemisphere on the first side of the airframe to another second module disposed in the second hemisphere on the second side of the airframe; and optical fibers to interconnect the optical connectors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of optical connectors is further to connect the first module disposed in the first hemisphere on the first side of the airframe to another first module disposed in the second hemisphere on the first side of the airframe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of optical connectors is further to connect the second module disposed in the first hemisphere on the second side of the airframe to the other second module disposed in the second hemisphere on the second side of the airframe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the optical connectors include ferrule-based blindmate connectors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9, wherein the optical connectors include glass-based blindmate optical connectors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, wherein the glass-based blindmate optical connectors include laser-written waveguides inscribed in glass. ### Claim 15 A system, comprising: an electrical midplane; an airframe having a first side on which first modules are disposed and a second side on which second modules are disposed, the airframe to provide for optimized airflow through the first modules disposed on the first with air flowing through shutters on an electrical midplane to which the airframe is coupled; and a plurality of optical connectors disposed at respective locations on the airframe, the second side of the airframe resting on the electrical midplane such that the optical connectors extend through the electrical midplane towards the second modules to provide optical connectivity between at least one of: any first module disposed on the first side of the airframe and any second module disposed on the second side of the airframe; any first modules disposed on the first side of the airframe; and any second modules disposed on the second side of the airframe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising optical fibers to interconnect the optical connectors disposed on the airframe. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the optical connectors include ferrule-based blindmate optical connectors or glass-based blindmate optical connectors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the electrical midplane includes electrical midplane alignment components to provide alignment of the electrical midplane relative to the second modules. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, where the electrical midplane includes electrical midplane alignment components to provide alignment of the electrical midplane relative to the first modules. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the optical connectors include optical connector alignment components to provide alignment of the optical connectors relative to the first modules and the second modules.