WO2011033043A2 - Connector and system - Google Patents
Connector and system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2011033043A2 WO2011033043A2 PCT/EP2010/063655 EP2010063655W WO2011033043A2 WO 2011033043 A2 WO2011033043 A2 WO 2011033043A2 EP 2010063655 W EP2010063655 W EP 2010063655W WO 2011033043 A2 WO2011033043 A2 WO 2011033043A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- optical
- connector
- circuit board
- printed circuit
- guiding means
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
- G02B6/4292—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
- G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
- G02B6/4204—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms
- G02B6/4206—Optical features
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
- G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
- G02B6/4204—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms
- G02B6/4215—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms the intermediate optical elements being wavelength selective optical elements, e.g. variable wavelength optical modules or wavelength lockers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to connectors for optically connecting an integrated circuit with an optical element to a printed circuit with an optical element.
- Connectors in the field of data communication include various and different types of connectors.
- connectors connect a processor of a computer to an underlying printed circuit board to ensure an electric connection with the processor and the printed circuit board. These connectors are arranged on the surface of the printed surface board and are connected to the electrical circuits of the printed circuit board. Special types of known electronic connectors for processors are adapted to connect processors of for example the so-called land grid array (LGA) or ball grid array (BGA) type to the printed circuit board. However, these kind of connectors have limited data rate capacity with a maximum of 40 Gigabits per second.
- LGA land grid array
- BGA ball grid array
- the connector comprises at least one optical inlet and at least one optical outlet, wherein the optical inlet is
- the outlet is connectable to the optical element of the printed circuit board, wherein the optical inlet is connected via at least one light guiding means to the optical outlet and at least one diffractive element for guiding light from and/or to the light guiding means.
- Such a connector has the advantage, that the connector enables an increased speed for data exchange, especially between a central processing unit and an underlying printed circuit board.
- a further advantage of the connector according to claim 1 is, that it could be easily and cost effectively produced.
- Such a connector enables for example a speed for data exchange up to fifty TWords per second dependent on the number of available optical frequencies for data transmission between the integrated circuit and the printed circuit board.
- processor and/or the printed circuit board may comprise means for connecting the respective optical element to electronic circuits of the processor and/or the printed circuit board.
- the diffractive element is located near the portion of the outlet in the optical path. This enables a more easier manufacturing of the diffractive element.
- the diffractive element is a diffractive lens or a prism.
- a diffractive lens or a prism could be advantageously more easily produced and arranged within the connector. Further, the maintenance and/or cleaning of the diffractive element could be easily carried out.
- the light guiding means connected to the diffractive element is extending in radial direction from the diffractive element to the inlet.
- Such an arrangement of the light guiding means enables an enhanced coupling from the light guiding means to the diffractive element and further to connect several light guiding means to a single diffractive element so as to couple light from different inlets to for example one outlet only. This enhances the flexibility of the connector.
- the light guiding means is formed such to provide two channels for receiving and transmitting light. This enables a bidirectional information or data exchange and further enhances the amount of data per time to be able to be transmitted between a processor and a printed circuit board. Further the light guiding means and/or the optical elements could be sensitive to different wavelengths to provide
- the connector comprises a housing, which is of insulative material, in particular a polymer and/or ceramics. This reduces the risk for a short circuit between the
- the light guiding means is advantageously an optical fiber.
- the diffractive element is movable within the connector. If, for example, an up-and-down movement of the diffractive element is provided, the diffractive element could be used in such a way that no transmission occurs in the receiving channel but a transmission occurs in the
- a light guiding means in form of an optical fiber with a certain diameter could vary about 10% of its diameter due to manufacturing without loosing a reliable optical coupling between the diffractive element and the light guiding means.
- a movement of the diffractive element could for example be provided by piezo-electric means which are arranged correspondingly within the connector.
- a system comprising at least one integrated circuit with at least one optical element, a connector according to anyone of the claims 1-9, a printed circuit board with at least one optical element wherein the connector optically connects the optical element of the printed circuit board with the optical element of the integrated circuit.
- system further comprises an optical fiber cable connected to the optical element of the printed circuit board and to an optical source in particular a laser diode.
- Fig. 1 is a schematic view according to previously known connectors ;
- Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a system with a connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention .
- FIG. 1 there is a schematic view of a system for a known connector in the art.
- Fig. 1 shows an underlying printed circuit board 1 which has contacts la for corresponding contacts of a ball grid array 2a of a connector 2 placed above the printed circuit board 1.
- the connector 2 is coupled to a central processing unit 3 with a die 3' .
- a heat sink 4 on top of the die 3' of the central proccessing unit.
- Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a system with a connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the printed circuit board 1 comprises an optical element 1' to which via a fiber connector 7 of an optical fiber F is
- optical fiber F itself is connected to an optical source Q like a laser diode or the like, for light
- the optical element 1' of the printed circuit board 1 is coupled to a diffractive element D of a connector 2 comprising a housing 2a. Radial extending from a diffractive element D in form of diffractive lens there are provided optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c extending in radial direction from the curved surface of the lens D in the direction to the central processing unit 3.
- the central processing unit 3 comprises optical elements 6a, 6b, 6c which are coupled to the corresponding optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c.
- the die 3' of the central processing unit 3 is thermo
- the fiber connector 7 is used to couple reliably the optical fiber F to the optical element 1' of the printed circuit board 1.
- the light guiding means in form of optical fibres 5a, 5b, 5c are manufactured by variation of the pressure and
- optical fibres within the connector 2 is by arranging optical fibers within a hollow housing and fill up the hollow housing with ceramics.
- the connector 2 could be coupled to the printed circuit board 1 for example by gluing or by screws to removably and reliably attach the connector 2 to the printed circuit board 1.
- the light guiding means in form of the optical fibres 5a, 5b, 5c can also be divided into light guiding means for receiving and transmitting light only
Abstract
The present invention relates to a connector for optically connecting an integrated circuit with an optical element to a printed circuit board with an optical element, comprising a housing at least one optical inlet and at least one optical outlet, wherein the optical inlet is connectable to the optical element of the integrated circuit and the outlet is connectable to the optical element of the printed circuit board, wherein the optical inlet is connected via at least one optical light guiding means through the housing to the optical outlet, and at least one diffractive element for guiding light from and/or to the optical light guiding means and a corresponding system.
Description
Connector and system
Background of the invention
The present invention relates to connectors for optically connecting an integrated circuit with an optical element to a printed circuit with an optical element.
Description of related art
Connectors in the field of data communication include various and different types of connectors.
Optical connectors in general link for example optical fibres or optical elements like laser diodes, photo diodes, etc. to other optical equipment or other optical fiber cables.
Electronic connectors, in particular so-called socket
connectors connect a processor of a computer to an underlying printed circuit board to ensure an electric connection with the processor and the printed circuit board. These connectors are arranged on the surface of the printed surface board and are connected to the electrical circuits of the printed circuit board. Special types of known electronic connectors for processors are adapted to connect processors of for example the so-called land grid array (LGA) or ball grid array (BGA) type to the printed circuit board. However, these kind of connectors have limited data rate capacity with a maximum of 40 Gigabits per second.
To increase the band width of electronic processors a greater array of pins is needed. However this results in more space and more energy for the electronic processor and in the
following increased temperatures of the electronic processor reducing the reliability of data communication.
Hence there is a need for connectors enabling enhanced and reliable data communication rates between a processor and an underlying printed circuit board without increasing the space for the connector.
Summary of the invention
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages, namely inter alia providing a connector for enhanced data rate connections between a processor and a printed board.
The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a connector for optically connecting an
integrated circuit, in particular a large scale processor, with an optical element to a printed circuit board with an optical element.
The connector comprises at least one optical inlet and at least one optical outlet, wherein the optical inlet is
connectable to the optical element of the integrated circuit and the outlet is connectable to the optical element of the printed circuit board, wherein the optical inlet is connected via at least one light guiding means to the optical outlet and at least one diffractive element for guiding light from and/or to the light guiding means.
Such a connector has the advantage, that the connector enables an increased speed for data exchange, especially between a
central processing unit and an underlying printed circuit board. A further advantage of the connector according to claim 1 is, that it could be easily and cost effectively produced. Such a connector enables for example a speed for data exchange up to fifty TWords per second dependent on the number of available optical frequencies for data transmission between the integrated circuit and the printed circuit board.
Of course the processor and/or the printed circuit board may comprise means for connecting the respective optical element to electronic circuits of the processor and/or the printed circuit board.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the diffractive element is located near the portion of the outlet in the optical path. This enables a more easier manufacturing of the diffractive element.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the diffractive element is a diffractive lens or a prism. Such a lens or prism could be advantageously more easily produced and arranged within the connector. Further, the maintenance and/or cleaning of the diffractive element could be easily carried out.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention the light guiding means connected to the diffractive element is extending in radial direction from the diffractive element to the inlet. Such an arrangement of the light guiding means enables an enhanced coupling from the light guiding means to the diffractive element and further to connect several light guiding means to a single diffractive element so as to couple light from different inlets to for example one outlet only. This enhances the flexibility of the connector.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the light guiding means is formed such to provide two channels for receiving and transmitting light. This enables a bidirectional information or data exchange and further enhances the amount of data per time to be able to be transmitted between a processor and a printed circuit board. Further the light guiding means and/or the optical elements could be sensitive to different wavelengths to provide
transmission and reception simultaneously.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention the connector comprises a housing, which is of insulative material, in particular a polymer and/or ceramics. This reduces the risk for a short circuit between the
integrated circuit, in particular a processor and conductors of the printed circuit board.
In order to reduce the costs for manufacturing the connector and for an easier manufacturing the light guiding means is advantageously an optical fiber.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention the diffractive element is movable within the connector. If, for example, an up-and-down movement of the diffractive element is provided, the diffractive element could be used in such a way that no transmission occurs in the receiving channel but a transmission occurs in the
transmitting channel. This enables higher manufacturing tolerances of the light guiding means, since it is possible by the movement to overcome negative effects of manufactering tolerances. For example a light guiding means in form of an optical fiber with a certain diameter could vary about 10% of
its diameter due to manufacturing without loosing a reliable optical coupling between the diffractive element and the light guiding means. A movement of the diffractive element could for example be provided by piezo-electric means which are arranged correspondingly within the connector.
According to a second aspect of the present invention a system is provided comprising at least one integrated circuit with at least one optical element, a connector according to anyone of the claims 1-9, a printed circuit board with at least one optical element wherein the connector optically connects the optical element of the printed circuit board with the optical element of the integrated circuit.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the system of the present invention the system further comprises an optical fiber cable connected to the optical element of the printed circuit board and to an optical source in particular a laser diode. This enables a cost-effective and easy
information and/or data exchange in the optical system.
Brief description of the drawings
The features of the invention and the elements characteristic of the invention are further understood in connection with the drawing. The figures are for illustration purposes only. The invention itself may be best understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a schematic view according to previously known connectors ;
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a system with a connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention .
In Fig. 1 there is a schematic view of a system for a known connector in the art. Fig. 1 shows an underlying printed circuit board 1 which has contacts la for corresponding contacts of a ball grid array 2a of a connector 2 placed above the printed circuit board 1. The connector 2 is coupled to a central processing unit 3 with a die 3' . For heat dissipation of the die 3' there is arranged a heat sink 4 on top of the die 3' of the central proccessing unit.
Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a system with a connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The printed circuit board 1 comprises an optical element 1' to which via a fiber connector 7 of an optical fiber F is
coupled. The optical fiber F itself is connected to an optical source Q like a laser diode or the like, for light
respectively data transmission. The optical element 1' of the printed circuit board 1 is coupled to a diffractive element D of a connector 2 comprising a housing 2a. Radial extending from a diffractive element D in form of diffractive lens there are provided optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c extending in radial direction from the curved surface of the lens D in the direction to the central processing unit 3. The central processing unit 3 comprises optical elements 6a, 6b, 6c which are coupled to the corresponding optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c.
The die 3' of the central processing unit 3 is thermo
conductively coupled to a heat sink 4 above the die 3' .
The fiber connector 7 is used to couple reliably the optical fiber F to the optical element 1' of the printed circuit board 1. The light guiding means in form of optical fibres 5a, 5b, 5c are manufactured by variation of the pressure and
temperature for example of the polymer. Another option to arrange optical fibres within the connector 2 is by arranging optical fibers within a hollow housing and fill up the hollow housing with ceramics.
The connector 2 could be coupled to the printed circuit board 1 for example by gluing or by screws to removably and reliably attach the connector 2 to the printed circuit board 1.
The light guiding means in form of the optical fibres 5a, 5b, 5c can also be divided into light guiding means for receiving and transmitting light only
While the present invention has been particularly described in conjunction with the specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. Connector (2) for optically connecting an integrated
circuit (3) , in particular a large scale processor, with an optical element (6a, 6b, 6c) to a printed circuit board (1) with an optical element (1'), comprising at least one optical inlet (Ii, I2, I3) and at least one optical outlet (Oi) , wherein the optical inlet (Ii, I2, I3) is connectable to the optical element (6a, 6b, 6c) of the integrated circuit (3) and the outlet (Oi) is connectable to the optical element (1') of the printed circuit board (1) ,
wherein the optical inlet (Ii, I2, I3) is connected via at least one light guiding means (5a, 5b, 5c) to the optical outlet (Oi) , and
at least one diffractive element (D) for guiding light from and/or to the light guiding means (5a, 5b, 5c) .
2. Connector according to claim 1, wherein
the diffractive element (D) is located near the portion of the outlet (Oi) in the optical path.
3. Connector according to anyone of the claims 1-2, wherein the diffractive element (D) is a diffractive lens or a prism.
4. Connector according to anyone of the claims 1-3, wherein the light guiding means (5a, 5b, 5c) connected to the diffractive element (D) is extending in radial direction from the diffractive element (D) to the inlets (Ii, I2, I3) .
5. Connector according to anyone of the claims 1-4, wherein the light guiding means (5a, 5b, 5c) is formed such to provide two channels for receiving and transmitting light .
6. Connector according to anyone of the claims 1-5, wherein the connector (2) comprises a housing (2a), which is of insulative material, in particular a polymer and/or ceramics .
7. Connector according to anyone of the claims 1-6, wherein the light guiding means (5a, 5b, 5c) is an optical fibre.
8. Connector according to anyone of the claims 1-7, wherein the diffractive element (D) is movable within the
connector, in particular movable in the direction
perpendicular to the surface of the printed circuit board .
9. Connector according to anyone of the claims 1-8, wherein the distance between the side of the connector (2) to the printed circuit board (1) and the side to the integrated circuit (3) is smaller than a diameter of a light guiding means (5a, 5b, 5c) .
10. System comprising
at least one integrated circuit (3) in particular a large scale processor, with at least one optical element (6a, 6b, 6c), a connector (2) according to anyone of the claims 1-9,
a printed circuit board (1) with at least one optical element ( 1 ' ) , wherein the connector (2) optically connects the optical element (1') of the printed circuit board (1) with the optical element (6a, 6b, 6c) of the integrated circuit (3) .
11. System according to claim 10 comprising further
an optical fibre cable (F) connected to the optical element (1') of the printed circuit board (1) and to a optical source (Q) , in particular a laser diode.
12. Use of a diffractive element (D) , in particular a
lens or a prism, for guiding light from or to an outlet (Oi) to at least one light guiding means (5a, 5b, 5c) , in particular a plurality of light guiding means (5a, 5b, 5c) within a connector (2) for optically connecting an integrated circuit (3) with an optical element (6a, 6b, 6c) to a printed circuit board (1) .
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN201080042034.7A CN104115044A (en) | 2009-09-17 | 2010-09-16 | Connector and system |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP09170609 | 2009-09-17 | ||
| EP09170596 | 2009-09-17 | ||
| EP09170613 | 2009-09-17 | ||
| EP09170613.5 | 2009-09-17 | ||
| EP09170609.3 | 2009-09-17 | ||
| EP09170596.2 | 2009-09-17 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2011033043A2 true WO2011033043A2 (en) | 2011-03-24 |
Family
ID=43759094
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2010/063655 WO2011033043A2 (en) | 2009-09-17 | 2010-09-16 | Connector and system |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN104115044A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2011033043A2 (en) |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP3553403B2 (en) * | 1998-12-03 | 2004-08-11 | 日本電信電話株式会社 | High-speed signal processor |
| AU2002231027A1 (en) * | 2000-12-13 | 2002-06-24 | Teraconnect, Inc. | A packaging system for two-dimensional optoelectronic arrays |
| US6736552B2 (en) * | 2001-07-03 | 2004-05-18 | Intel Corporation | Optically interconnecting integrated circuit chips |
| US6599031B2 (en) * | 2001-09-12 | 2003-07-29 | Intel Corporation | Optical/electrical interconnects and package for high speed signaling |
| CN1993639B (en) * | 2004-09-29 | 2013-01-16 | 日立化成工业株式会社 | Photoelectric integrated circuit element and transmission apparatus using the same |
| US7200295B2 (en) * | 2004-12-07 | 2007-04-03 | Reflex Photonics, Inc. | Optically enabled hybrid semiconductor package |
-
2010
- 2010-09-16 CN CN201080042034.7A patent/CN104115044A/en active Pending
- 2010-09-16 WO PCT/EP2010/063655 patent/WO2011033043A2/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CN104115044A (en) | 2014-10-22 |
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