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US 5,475,215 AGranted
Optical communicating apparatus for communcating optical signals between electronic circuts
OwnerWinston Hsuinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Optical connectors for communicating signals between electronic circuit boards and modules are devised. It comprises two matching optical connectors and each of them has a flat connector interface and a plurality of light cells for generating or receiving optical signals between the two optical connectors. High speed and high density semiconductor laser diodes and photodetectors are used to replace traditional pin-and-socket connections in the new optical connectors for signal transmission.
Claims21
An optical communicating apparatus for communicating signals between electronic circuit members comprising two optical connectors, each of said optical connectors comprising:
- (1) at least one substantially flat connector interface for optical communications;
- (2) a plurality of light cells for generating or receiving optical signals, said light cells arranged in parallel to said connector interface, each of said light cells comprising a collimating mechanism for collimating optical signals along a designated optical path of said light cell, the designated optical paths of two matching light cells of said two optical connectors coupled together for performing optical communications, one of said matching light cells comprising at least one light emitter and the other said matching light cell comprising at least one light sensor whereby optical signals can be generated and received between said two matching light cells to perform optical communications, each of said light emitter or light sensor comprising at least two electrical terminals wherein electrical signals can be converted into optical signals through said light emitter or optical signals received by said light sensor can be converted into electrical signals, said light emitter or light sensor of one of said matching light cells further comprising a control switch for controlling said light emitter or light sensor whereby the use of said light emitter or light sensor can be controlled by said control switch;
- and
- (3) a connector alignment means for aligning said light cells of both optical connectors for optical communications wherein said connector alignment means of one of said optical connectors engages and removably attaches to said connector alignment means of the other optical connector with said connector interfaces of both optical connectors closely facing each other when said two optical connectors are connected together;
- wherein said light cells of one of said optical connectors are substantially aligned with said light cells of the other optical connector by the help of said connector alignment means of said two optical connectors whereby optical communications can be established between said two optical connectors.
2 more elements
An optical communicating apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
- said light emitter or light sensor further comprises at least one control register to control said control switch whereby the use of said light emitter or light sensor can be programmed externally by using said control register.
An optical communicating apparatus for communicating signals between electronic circuit members comprising two optical connectors, each of said optical connectors comprising:
- (1) at least one substantially flat connector interface for optical communications;
- (2) a plurality of light cells for generating or receiving optical signals, said light cells arranged in parallel to said connector interface, each of said light cells comprising a collimating mechanism for collimating optical signals along a designated optical path of said light cell, the designated optical paths of two matching light cells of said two optical connectors coupled together for performing optical communications, one of said two matching light cells comprising at least one light emitter for generating optical signals in one spectral range and the other said matching light cell comprising at least one light sensor for receiving optical signals in said spectral range whereby optical signals of said spectral range can be generated and received between said two matching light cells to perform optical communications, said two matching light cells further comprising another pair of light emitter and light sensor for performing optical communications by using a different spectral range whereby optical signals generated by said two light emitters of said two matching light cells can be transmitted in the same time without interfering with each other, each of said light emitters or light sensors comprising at least two electrical terminals wherein electrical signals can-be converted into optical signals through said light emitter or optical signals received by said light sensor can be converted into electrical signals;
- and
- (3) a connector alignment means for aligning said light cells of both optical connectors for optical communications wherein said connector alignment means of one of said optical connectors engages and removably attaches to said connector alignment means of the other optical connector with said connector interfaces of both optical connectors closely facing each other when said two optical connectors are connected together;
- wherein said light cells of one of said optical connectors are substantially aligned with said light cells of the other optical connector by the help of said connector alignment means of said two optical connectors whereby optical communications can be established between said two optical connectors.
2 more elements
An optical communicating apparatus for communicating signals between electronic circuit members comprising two optical connectors, each of said optical connectors comprising:
- (1) at least one substantially flat connector interface for optical communications;
- (2) a plurality of light cells for generating or receiving optical signals, said light cells arranged in parallel to said connector interface, each of said light cells comprising a collimating mechanism for collimating optical signals along a designated optical path of said light cell, the designated optical paths of two matching light cells of said two optical connectors coupled together for performing optical communications, one of said matching light cells comprising one light emitter and the other said matching light cell comprising one light sensor whereby optical signals can be generated and received between said matching light cells to perform optical communications, each of said light emitter or light sensor comprising at least two electrical terminals wherein electrical signals can be converted into optical signals through said light emitter or optical signals received by said light sensor can be converted into electrical signals, one of said matching light cells of one optical connector matched with at least two matching light cells of the other optical connector whereby optical communications between said two optical connectors still can be established even when the light cell sizes of said two optical connectors are not the same;
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- (3) a connector alignment means for aligning said light cells of both optical connectors for optical communications wherein said connector alignment means of one of said optical connectors engages and removably attaches to said connector alignment means of the other optical connector with said connector interfaces of both optical connectors closely facing each other when said two optical connectors are connected together;
- wherein said light cells of one of said optical connectors are substantially aligned with said light cells of the other optical connector by the help of said connector alignment means of said two optical connectors whereby optical communications can be established between said two optical connectors.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.