Optical fiber interconnection apparatus and method

Interconnection apparatus comprising:

• a substantially parallel array of printed wiring boards each supporting electronic circuitry;
• each printed wiring board supporting a light source and a light detector;
• each printed wiring board further supporting means comprising the light source for converting electrical output signals to output lightwaves and means comprising the light detectors for converting lightwave signals to electrical input signals:
• a flat backplane member substantially transverse to the parallel array of printed wiring boards;
• a plurality of arcuate grooves in the backplane member, each groove extending between a pair of printed wiring boards;
• and
• an optical fiber mounted in each groove which is coupled at one end to a light source of one printed wiring board and at the other end to a light detector of another printed wiring board.

Interconnection apparatus comprising:

• a substantially parallel array of first flat members each containing thereon a plurality of electrical conductors for transmitting electrical energy;
• at least one optical source and one photodetector on each of the first flat members, the sources and photodetectors of each first flat member being located within corresponding common areas near a first edge of such first flat member and being coupled to electrical conductors of such first flat member;
• the photodetectors comprising means for converting optical signals to electrical signals;
• the optical sources comprising means for converting electrical signals to optical signals;
• a second flat member substantially transverse to the parallel array and having a first edge that contacts the first edge of each first flat member near the common area of such first flat member;
• a plurality of arcuate grooves in the second flat member having ends at the first edge of the second flat member;
• and a plurality of optical fibers mounted in the grooves for interconnecting various sources and photodetectors of the first flat members.

Interconnection apparatus comprising:

• a substantially parallel array of first flat members each defining thereon a plurality of transmission paths;
• a plurality of optical input and output elements on the first flat members, the optical input and output elements of each first flat member being located within corresponding common areas near a first edge of such first flat member and being coupled to transmission paths of such first flat member;
• a plurality of first arcuate grooves in the second flat member each having ends at the first edge of the second flat member, and a plurality of second and third grooves;
• a plurality of first optical fibers mounted in the first grooves for interconnecting various input and output elements of the first flat members;
• a plurality of second optical fibers mounted in the second grooves for interconnecting optical output elements with a first terminal of the second flat member;
• and a plurality of third optical fibers in the third grooves for interconnecting the optical input elements with a second terminal of the second flat member;
• the first and second terminals being exposed such that individual second optical fibers of the first terminal can be selectively connected to third individual optical fibers of the second terminal.

Interconnection apparatus comprising:

• a substantially parallel array of printed wiring boards each supporting electronic circuitry;
• each printed wiring board supporting a light source and a light detector;
• each printed wiring board further supporting means comprising the light source for converting electrical output signals to output lightwaves and means comprising the light detectors for converting lightwave signals to electrical input signals;
• a flat backplane member substantially transverse to the parallel array of printed wiring boards;
• a plurality of arcuate grooves in the backplane member, each groove extending between a pair of printed wiring boards;
• an optical fiber mounted in each groove which is coupled at one end to a light source of one printed wiring board and at the other end to a light detector of another printed wiring board;
• the flat backplane member further comprising a plurality of second and third grooves for supporting second and third optical fibers;
• each second optical fiber connecting a light source with a light source terminal of the backplane member, and each third optical fiber connecting a light detector with a detector terminal of the backplane member;
• the source terminals and detector terminals of the backplane member being exposed such that individual second optical fibers of the source terminal can be selectively connected to individual third optical fibers of the detector terminal.

Interconnection apparatus comprising:

• a substantially parallel array of first flat members each containing a plurality of electrical conductors for transmitting electrical energy;
• each first flat member containing at least one optical output element adapted to convert electrical signals to optical signals;
• each first flat member containing at least one optical input element adapted to convert optical signals to electrical signals;
• each optical input element and each optical output element being located near a first edge of the first flat member upon which it is contained and being electrically coupled to an electrical conductor of such first flat member;
• a second flat member substantially transverse to the parallel array and physically contacting the first edge of each first flat member;
• and a plurality of optical fibers supported by the second flat member, at least a plurality of such optical fibers interconnecting various input and output elements of the first flat members.

A method for interconnecting a plurality of first flat members comprising the steps of:

• forming a plurality of apertures in a second flat member at a plurality of locations;
• mounting the first flat members transversely to the second member such that edges of the first member abut a first face of a second member;
• mounting optical fibers on a second face of the second member opposite the first face such that they extend through apertures and interconnect the first flat members;
• said optical fiber mounting step comprising the steps of:
• (a) applying a peelable sheet element over each of the apertures;
• (b) adhesively mounting the optical fibers on paths overlying the peelable sheet elements and extending between apertures;
• (c) peeling back the peelable sheet elements to expose the apertures;
• (d) attaching a connector to the free ends of fibers supported on the peelable sheets;
• (e) and protruding the connectors through the apertures to make contact with optical conductors of the first flat members.