Optical Connector, a Communication System and a Method of Connecting a User Circuit to an Optical Transceiver

A method of connecting a user circuit to an optical backplane, the method comprising:

• providing a user circuit having a connector arranged thereon, the connector being an optical connector for connecting a user circuit to an optical backplane, in use the connector being adapted for mounting on a user circuit, the connector comprising:
• an optical interface through which optical signals may be transmitted and received between a user circuit and a said optical backplane;
• a primary aligner for engagement with a corresponding aligner on a backplane to ensure alignment of the optical interface with the backplane;
• and
• a support for supporting the aligner and/or the optical interface on the connector the support being selected to enable relative movement between a user circuit to which the connector is connected in use and the aligner and/or the optical interface;
• providing an optical backplane having one or more sockets for receiving a connector;
• and
• engaging the connector with the socket of the backplane.

A communication system comprising:

• an optical backplane for receiving one or more user circuits and enabling optical communication therebetween;
• one or more user circuits for connection to the optical backplane;
• and,
• a connector for connecting the or each user circuit to the optical backplane, wherein the connector is an optical connector for connecting a user circuit to an optical backplane in use the connector being adapted for mounting on a user circuit, the connector comprising:
• an optical interface through which optical signals may be transmitted and received between a user circuit and a said optical backplane;
• a primary aligner for engagement with a corresponding aligner on a backplane to ensure alignment of the optical interface with the backplane;
• and
• a support for supporting the aligner and/or the optical interface on the connector, the support being selected to enable relative movement between a user circuit to which the connector is connected in use and the aligner and/or the optical interface.