Backplane optical fiber connector for engaging boards of different thicknesses and method of use
AssigneeBerg Technology, Inc.
InventorsYakov Belopolsky, Stuart C. Stoner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a fiber optic backplane connector in which there are a plurality of axially spaced circuit board engaging spring on one side of the exterior housing. By means of this arrangement a single connector is engageable with a number of thicknesses of circuit board. Also disclosed are two resilient metal arms which extend from a metal plate on one side of the connector to engage the medial flange to enable the connector to be assembled without ultrasonic welding. A method for using this connector to connect fiber optic cables as well as to dissipate static electrical charges therein is also disclosed.
Claims27
In a fiber optic backplane connector for connecting fiber optic cables at a circuit board having a thickness and said circuit board which has a transverse aperture, having a peripheral edge, said connector comprising (a) a central adapter passing through said aperture in the circuit board and having an axial bore for holding two fiber optic cables in alignment and (b) an exterior housing coaxially surrounding the adapter and having first and second ends each having peripheral surfaces and a medial flange interposed between said first and second ends and said exterior housing being positioned such that the first end passes through the transverse aperture in the circuit board, in generally abutting relationship between its peripheral surface and peripheral edge of the transverse aperture and the medial flange is positioned in generally side by side abutting relation with the board wherein the improvement comprises a first and a second axially spaced board engaging means extending from the peripheral surface of the first end of the exterior housing to allow the backplane connection to engage boards of different thicknesses.
A method for connecting two fiber optic cables at a circuit board having a thickness and a transverse aperture with a peripheral edge comprising the steps of positioning the fiber optic cables in connecting alignment in an axial bore in a central adapter and forming a backplane connector by positioning said central adapter in interior coaxial relation with an exterior housing having a first end and a second end each having peripheral surfaces and there being on the peripheral surface of said first end a plurality of axially spaced circuit board engagement means each extending from its peripheral surface and then positioning the resultant backplane connector such that its first end passes through the transverse aperture in the circuit board with its peripheral surface in generally abutting relation to the peripheral edge thereof and the medial flange is positioned in generally side by side abutting relation with the circuit board such that there are a plurality of axially displacements between the medial flange and each of the circuit board engagement means and then engaging the circuit board with the circuit board engagement means which has the smallest axial displacement greater than the thickness of the circuit board.
A method for connecting two fiber optic cables at a circuit board having a thickness and a transverse aperture with a peripheral edge comprising the steps of positioning the fiber optic cables in connecting coaxial alignment in an axial bore in a central adapter and forming a backplane connector by positioning said central adapter in interior coaxial relation with an exterior housing having a first end and a second end each having peripheral surfaces and there being an electrical conductive means on the peripheral surface of the first end and a medial flange and said first end having at least one circuit board engagement means each extending from metal plate mounted on the peripheral surface and then positioning the resultant backplane connector such that its first end passes through the transverse aperture in the circuit board with its peripheral surface in generally abutting relation to the peripheral edge thereof and the medial flange is positioned in generally side by side abutting relation with the circuit board and then engaging the circuit board with the circuit board engagement means and generally simultaneously discharging accumulated static electrical charge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.