US 4,217,030 A · Fiberoptic-electronic connector assembly

Abstract

An assembly (10) for simultaneously making and breaking electrical and optical connections is described. The assembly includes locking means (12) for engaging a circuit pack to a frame (16); first and second electrical half-connectors (18, 20) and optical fiber half-connectors (22, 24) mounted on the frame and circuit board (14); guide means (26) into which the fiber half-connectors are insertable for axially aligning the fiber half-connectors; resilient means (28) for holding the fiber half-connectors in abutment when the circuit board is engaged with the frame by the locking means. A twist-lock arrangement (68, 72) for enabling ready coupling of first fiber half-connectors to a housing guide (70) is also included. Implementation of the assembly with both nested-rod fiber connectors (22, 24) and biconic connectors (122, 124) is described. Incorporation of the housing guide and guide means on a printed circuit board (FIG. 10), and a single fiber splicing scheme using the twist-lock arrangement (FIG. 11) are also described.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An assembly (10,100) characterized by the ability to make or break simultaneously electrical and optical fiber connections between opto-electronic equipment mounted on a circuit board (14) and opto-electronic equipment mounted on a frame (16) comprising

locking means (12,112) for engaging the board to the frame,
first (18) and second (20) electrical half-connectors mounted, respectively, on the frame and on the board,
first (22,122) and second (24,124) optical fiber half-connectors mounted, respectively, on the frame and on the board,
guide means (26,126) into which the fiber half-connectors are insertable for axially aligning and abutting the fiber half-connectors with one another;
and
resilient means (28,128) for holding the fiber half-connectors in abutment when the board is engaged with the frame by the locking means.

3 more elements

An assembly (10,100, FIG. 10) for aligning at least one pair of optical fibers, (30-38, 130-138) each mounted in a separate fiber half-connector (22-24, 122-124), by means of an alignment apparatus which surrounds the half-connectors, characterized in that:

the apparatus includes a housing guide (70,170) having a plurality of channels (74) extending therethrough for receiving first fiber half-connectors, the guide having a plurality of recesses (72) each of which intersects one of the channels,
each first fiber half-connector includes a rotatable housing (48,148) and lug means (68,168) on the outer surface thereof which engages the recesses when the housing is inserted into a channel and rotated,
the apparatus further includes:
an orientation member (66,166) secured to the housing guide and having a plurality of channels extending therethrough in registration with those of the housing guide;
a support member (44,144) adjacent the orientation member and having a plurality of channels extending therethrough in registration with those of the housing guide and support member;
second fiber half-connectors (24,124) being secured in the channels of the support member and extending into the orientation member where they abut the first fiber half-connectors (22,122);
and resilient means (28,128) for holding the fiber half-connectors in abutment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fiberoptic-electronic connector assembly

Life of this patent

Fiberoptic-electronic connector assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18