Electrical circuit apparatus

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• a plurality of circuit modules provided on said electrical circuit board and electrically interconnected with each other, each of said plurality of circuit modules including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a plurality of connectors of a first kind positioned at sites between adjacent ones of said plurality of circuit modules and at sites surrounding said circuit modules and each having a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to at least one of said circuit modules;
• a plurality of connectors of a second kind respectively positioned on said plurality of connectors of the first kind and each having a plurality of contact electrodes coupled to said plurality of contact connectors of one of said connectors of the first kind, said connector of the second kind being detachably connected to said one connector of the first kind;
• and
• a plurality of groups of fibers with each group of fibers connected to one of said plurality of connectors of the second kind,
• each of said plurality of connectors of the second kind including a plurality of opto-electrical circuits each being connected to one of fibers of one fiber group connected to said each connector of the second kind and to at least one of a plurality of contact electrodes possessed by said each connector of the second kind, said opto-electrical circuits each being comprised of an electro-optical converter or an opto/electrical converter.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• at least one circuit module provided on said electrical circuit board and including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• means provided above said circuit module, for cooling the same;
• a connector of a first kind having a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to said circuit module;
• a connector of a second kind positioned on said connector of the first kind and having a plurality of contact electrodes coupled to said plurality of contact electrodes of said connector of the first kind, said connector of the second kind being detachably connected to said connector of the first kind;
• and
• a group of fibers connected to said connector of the second kind,
• said connector of the second kind having a plurality of opto-electrical circuits each being connected to one of said fibers of said fiber group and to at least one of said plurality of contact electrodes possessed by said connector of the second kind and each being comprised of an electro/optical converter or an opto/electrical converter, said connector of the second kind being thermally coupled to said cooling means.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• a plurality of circuit modules provided on said electrical circuit board and electrically interconnected with each other, each of said plurality of circuit modules including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a plurality of connectors of a first kind provided on a peripheral portion of a region in which said plurality of circuit modules are disposed and each having a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to at least one of said circuit modules;
• a plurality of connectors of a second kind respectively positioned on said plurality of connectors of the first kind and each having a plurality of contact electrodes coupled to a plurality of contact electrodes on one of said connectors of the first kind, said connector of the second kind being detachably connected to said one connector of the first kind;
• and
• a plurality of groups of fibers with each group being connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of connectors of the second kind,
• each of said plurality of connectors of the second kind including a plurality of opto-electrical circuit each being connected to one of fibers of one fiber group connected to said each connector of the second kind and to at least one of a plurality of contact electrodes possessed by said connector, each opto-electrical circuit being comprised of an electro/optical converter or an opto/electrical converter.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• a plurality of module substrates so provided on said electrical circuit board as to extend vertically of said electrical circuit board, said module substrates being arranged in parallel with each other;
• a plurality of circuit modules each provided on one of said module substrates and each including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• at least one connector of a first kind provided on said electrical circuit board between an adjacent two of said plurality of modules substrates and having a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to one of said circuit modules provided on one of said plurality of module substrates;
• a connector of a second kind positioned on said connector of the first kind and having a plurality of contact electrodes coupled to said plurality of contact electrodes of said connector of the first kind, said connector of the second kind being detachably connected to said connector of the first kind;
• and
• a group of fibers connected to said connector of the second kind,
• said connector of the second kind having a plurality of opto-electrical circuits each being connected to one of said fibers of said fiber group and to at least one of said plurality of contact electrodes possessed by said connector and each being comprised of an electro/optical converter or an opto/electrical converter.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• at least one circuit module provided on a first surface of said electrical circuit board and each including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a connector of a first kind provided at a position on a second surface, of said electrical circuit, opposite to said first surface and opposing said circuit module, and having a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to said circuit module;
• a connector of a second kind positioned on said connector of the first kind and having a plurality of contact electrodes coupled to sid plurality of contact electrodes of said connector of the first kind, said connector of the second king being detachably connected to said connector of the first kind;
• and
• a group of fibers connected to said connector of the second kind,
• said connector of the second kind having a plurality of opto-electrical circuits each being connected to one of fibers of said fiber group and to at least one of sid plurality of contact electrodes possessed by said connector, and each being comprised of an electro/optical converter or an opto/electrical converter.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• at least one circuit module provided on said electrical circuit board and including a plurality of circuits;
• a connector of a first kind provided on said electrical circuit board and having a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to said circuit module;
• a connector of a second kind having a plurality of contact electrodes connected to said plurality of contact electrodes of said connector of the first kind and being detachably connected to said connector of the first kind;
• and
• a group of fibers connected to said connector of the second kind,
• said connector of the second kind having:
• at least one opto-electrical circuit which is either a first opto-electrical element connected to a first fiber of said fiber group, for converting an optical signal supplied from said first fiber into a first electrical signal or a second opto-electrical element connected to a second fiber of said fiber group for converting a second electrical signal supplied from said electrical circuit board into an optical signal to be provided to said second fiber;
• and
• at least one register which is a first register responsive to a clock signal supplied from said circuit module receiving the first electrical signal supplied from said first opto-electrical element and applying the received first electrical signal to said circuit module or a second register responsive to said clock signal, receiving the second electrical signal supplied from said circuit module and applying the second electrical signal to said second opto-electrical element.

A connector comprising:

• fiber supporting means for supporting ends of a plurality of fiber sheets each comprised of a plurality of fibers bundled in a sheet form such that respective sheet surfaces are held in parallel and said fiber sheets are arrayed in a direction substantially vertical to the sheet surfaces;
• a plurality of contact electrodes disposed in an opposite direction to a direction in which said plurality of fiber sheets extend;
• and
• a plurality of optoelectrical circuits provided in association with individual fibers of said fiber sheet and including any one of an opto/electrical converter circuit converting an optical signal supplied from a corresponding fiber into an electrical signal and applying the electrical signal to one of said plurality of contact electrodes and an electro/optical converter circuit converting an electrical signal supplied from one of said plurality of contact electrodes into an optical signal and applying the optical signal to corresponding
• a fiber.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• at least one first set of circuit modules provided on said electrical circuit board and electrically interconnected with each other, each said first set of circuit modules including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a first group of fibers;
• and
• a first connecting electric part disposed on said electrical circuit board, positioned between said first set of circuit modules for electrically connected said first group of fibers to said first set of circuit modules, said first connecting electric connecting part having (a) a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to said first set of circuit modules;
• and (b) a plurality of opto-electrical circuits each being connected to one of said fibers of said first fiber group and to at least one of said plurality of contact electrodes, and each being comprised of an electro/optical converter on an opto/electrical converter.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• a plurality of first circuit modules provided on said electrical circuit board and electrically interconnected with each other, each of said plurality of first circuit modules including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a plurality of groups of fibers;
• a plurality of first connecting electric parts positioned at sites between adjacent ones of said plurality of first circuit modules and at sites surrounding said first circuit modules, each for electrically connecting a corresponding one group within said groups of at least one of said plurality of circuit modules, each first connecting electric part having a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to at least one of said first circuit modules;
• and
• a plurality of opt-electrical circuit each connected to one of fibers of one fiber group corresponding to said each first connecting electric part and to at least one of said plurality of contact electrodes, said opto-electrical circuits each being comprised of an electro/optical converter or an opto-electrical converter.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• at least a first circuit module provided on said electrical circuit board and including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• first cooling means provided adjacent said first circuit module, for cooling the same;
• a group of fibers;
• a connecting electric part for electrically connecting said group of fibers to said first circuit module, having (a) a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to said first circuit module;
• and (b) a plurality of opto-electrical circuit each being connected to one of said fibers of said fiber group and to at least one of said plurality of contact electrodes, and each being comprised of an electro/optical converter or an opto/electrical converter, said connecting electric part being thermally coupled to said first cooling means.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• a plurality of circuit modules provided on said electrical circuit board and electrically interconnected with each other, each of said plurality of circuit modules including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a plurality of groups of fibers;
• a plurality of connecting electric parts provided on a peripheral portion of a region in which said plurality of circuit modules are disposed each for electrically connecting a corresponding one group of fibers within said groups of fibers, each connecting electric part having (a) a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to at least one of said circuit modules;
• and (b) a plurality of opto-electrical circuits each being connected to one of fibers of one fiber group corresponding to sad each connecting electric part and to at least one of said plurality of contact electrodes of said each connecting electric part, wherein each opto/electrical circuit is comprised of an electro/optical converter or an opto/electrical converter.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• a plurality of module substrates so provided on said electrical circuit board as to extend vertically of said electrical circuit board, said module substrates being arranged in parallel with each other and electrically interconnected with each other;
• a plurality of circuit modules each provided on one of said module substrates and each including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a group of fibers;
• at least one connecting electric part provided on said electrical circuit board between an adjacent two of said plurality of modules substrates for electrically connecting said group of fibers to at least one of said circuit modules, said connecting electric part having (a) a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to one of said circuit modules provided on one of said plurality of module substrates;
• and (b) a plurality of opto-electrical circuits each being connected to one of said fibers of said fiber group and to at least one of said plurality of contact electrodes, and each being comprised of an electro/optical converter or an opto-electrical converter.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• at least one first circuit module provided on a first surface of said electrical circuit board and each including a plurality of electrical circuits;
• a first group of fibers;
• and
• a first connecting electric part provided at a position on a second surface, of said electrical circuit, opposite to said first surface and opposing said first circuit module for electrically connecting said first group of fibers to said first circuit module, said first connecting electric part having (a) a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to said first circuit module and (b) a plurality of opto-electrical circuits each being connected to one of said fibers of said first fiber group and to at least one of said plurality of contact electrodes, and each being comprised of an electro/optical converter or an opto/electrical converter.

An electrical circuit apparatus, comprising:

• an electrical circuit board;
• at least one circuit module provided on said electrical circuit board and including a plurality of circuits;
• a group of fibers;
• a connecting electric part provided on said electrical circuit board for electrically connecting said group of fibers to said circuit module, having (a) a plurality of contact electrodes electrically connected to said circuit module and (b) at least one opto-electrical circuit which is either a first opto-electrical element connected to a first fiber of said fiber group, for converting an optical signal supplied from said first fiber into a first electrical signal, or a second opto-optical element connected to a second fiber of said fiber group for converting a second electrical signal supplied from said electrical circuit board into an optical signal to be provided to said second fiber;
• and (c) at least one register which is either a first register responsive to a clock signal supplied from said circuit module receiving the first electrical signal supplied from said first opto-electrical element and applying the received first electrical signal to said circuit module, or a second register responsive to said clock signal, receiving the second electrical signal supplied from said circuit module and applying the second electrical signal to said second opto-electrical element.