WO2017102517A1

WO2017102517A1 - Optical connector assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2017102517A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/080140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Federici; Adrian Peterhans
Original assignee: Huber+Suhner Ag
Priority date: 2015-12-14
Filing date: 2016-12-07
Publication date: 2017-06-22

Abstract

The invention is directed to an optical connector assembly (1) comprising a first optical connector (10) and a second optical connector (11), suitable to be interconnected to the first optical connector in an axial direction (x). The first optical connector (10) comprises first fastening means (27, 28) to attach the first optical connector (10) to a first circuit board (3). The second optical connector (11) comprises second fastening means (27, 28) to attach the second optical connector to a second circuit board (6). The first optical connector (10) comprises a first ferrule (21) and the second optical connector (11) comprises a second ferrule (31), wherein said first and said second ferrule (21, 31) are suitable to be interconnected to each other. At least one of the ferrules (21, 31) is arranged displaceable in the axial direction (x) with respect to an outer housing (33).

Description

OPTICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an optical connector assembly according to the preamble of independent claim 1 .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From the prior art connector assemblies are known to interconnect optical fibers to each other.

EP2546688 was published on 1 6 January 201 3 in the name of Tyco Electronics Nederland B.V.. It describes an optical inter-connect system for optically coupling an optical backplane to an out-of-plane circuit board mounted on the optical backplane. An optical backplane connector comprises a housing having two apertures for fixing an end part of a waveguide and which are so positioned that a direction of the optical transmission axis through the first aperture is deflected with respect the direction of the optical transmission axis through the second aperture by a right angle. An optical interconnector for optically coupling a second waveguide arranged on the circuit card to the optical backplane connector is also provided, which includes a longitudinal cavity for receiving the second waveguide and an optical interface for focusing the optical beam emanating from the second waveguide onto a receiving optical element at a frontal opening. This configuration allows a contactless optical coupling at right angles between the optical backplane and the circuit board waveguides.

W01 5033450 was published in March 201 5 in the name of Hitachi Ltd.. It describes an optical path conversion connector capable of mounting an optical fiber without bending the same to implement high-density packaging. The optical path conversion connector incorporates a plurality of optical connectors having optical fibers attached thereto. The optical path conversion connector comprises a mirror unit having a mirror for changing an optical path, a circuit-board-side optical connector having optical fibers attached thereto and equipped with lenses at positions corresponding to the optical fibers, a midplane- or backplane-side optical connector having optical fibers attached thereto and equipped with lenses at positions corresponding to the optical fibers. In addition a circuit-board-side optical connector housing and a midplane- or backplane-side optical connector housing are present which both are having a stepped structure.

US20141 53874 was published in June 201 4 in the name of Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Component Ltd.. It describes an optical connector for optically connecting a first optical waveguide and second optical waveguide. The optical connector includes a first connector module including a first fixing portion attached to a first board in such a manner that a fixed position is adjustable and a second connector module including a second fixing portion fixed to a second board and a holding unit that movably holds the second ferrule.

US8485738 was first published in February 201 1 in the name of Hewlett- Packard Development Company L.P.. It is directed to an optical fiber connector which comprises a form having a curved surface with a first end near the bottom surface of the form. The curved surface is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the form at the first end. A first plurality of active optical fibers are positioned along the curved surface of the form in a side-by side arrangement with the tips of each of the first plurality of optical fibers adjacent to the first end of the curved surface. The ends of each of the first plurality of active optical fibers have been striped down to cladding and the cladding of each optical fiber contacts the cladding of the adjacent optical fibers. An inner cover is attached to the form thereby capturing the first plurality of active optical fibers between the curved surface of the form and an inside curved surface in the inner cover.

US6520686 was first published in February 2003 in the name of Amphenol and Teradyne. It is directed to a fiber optic connection between a first connection assembly that provides alignment members and a second connection assembly that provides grooves such that a central axis of each groove of the second connection assembly is substantially perpendicular with a central axis of a corresponding alignment member of the first connection assembly. Each alignment member/groove pair can be positioned and oriented to control positioning of the first and second connection assemblies relative to each other in a single direction but allow movement in other directions to prevent physical stressing of the connection assemblies. That is, the alignment members of the first connection assembly can be arranged around a periphery of a first array of fiber ends of a first fiber optic cable, and the grooves of the second connection assembly can be arranged around a periphery of a second array of fiber ends of a second fiber optic cable such that the aggregate contribution of each alignment member/groove pair forms a self-aligning mechanism that properly aligns the first and second arrays of fiber ends to provide effective light transfer between fiber optic cables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an optical connector assembly which allows to easily provide board to board connections in an angled manner. A further object of the invention is to provide an optical connector assembly which offers the ability to arrange several connector assemblies in a dense manner.

An optical connector assembly normally comprises a first optical connector and a second optical connector, which is suitable to be interconnected to the first optical connector in an axial direction . The first optical connector comprises first fastening means to attach the first optical connector to a first circuit board. Alternatively or in addition the second optical connector comprises second fastening means to attach the second optical connector to a second circuit board. The first optical connector comprises a first ferrule and the second optical connector comprises a second ferrule. The first and the second ferrule are suitable to be interconnected to each other directly or indirectly to exchange data in an 5 optical manner. Preferably at least one of the ferrules is arranged displaceable in the axial direction with respect to an outer housing. Axial direction normally means the natural direction in which the optical fibers in the ferrule are pointing.

In a variation the first optical connector is suitable to be interconnected to a first optical waveguide of the first circuit board and/or the second optical connector is i o suitable to be interconnected to a second optical waveguide of the second circuit board. If appropriate one of the connectors can be contacted in a different manner, e.g. one of the connectors can be attached to a cable comprising at least one optical fiber. The at least one optical connector may comprise an adapter or a mounting aid by which the at least one optical fiber is aligned with respect to the

1 5 waveguide at least during mounting of the connector. If appropriate the adapter may be attached to the corresponding circuit board independently of a housing part of said connector. The adapter may further comprise a first alignment means to align with a second alignment means arranged at a housing part of the corresponding connector. 0 At least one of the optical connectors may comprise at least one optical fiber which in a mounted position interconnects the optical waveguide and the ferrule. The at least one optical fiber may be arranged at least partially free in space. The at least one optical fiber may be arranged at least partially in deflectable manner, e.g. in the axial direction. This has the advantage, that it allows adjustment and compensation of misalignment of the ferrules, e.g. during mating, without negative impact on the signal transmission. The first and/or the second fastening means may comprise an adapter or a mounting base.

In a variation the first ferrule comprises or is interconnected to first latching means and the second ferrule comprises or is interconnected to second latching means. The latching means may e.g. be arranged at the ferrules and/or at a ferrule holder. The first and the second latching means are suitable to latch with each other such that the ferrules are mechanically interconnected at least when the first and the second connector are optically interconnected to each other. The first and/or the second ferrule may e.g. be attached to an inner housing of the corresponding connector. The inner housing may act as a ferrule holder. Depending on the field of application, the first and/or the second ferrule may be arranged floating in at least one lateral direction. Lateral direction normally means a direction perpendicular to the axial direction mentioned above. The first and the second ferrule may comprise means to align the first ferrule with respect to the second ferrule. The means to align the ferrules with respect to each other in a variation comprise at least one pin and a corresponding hole to receive the pin. To obtain good contact force the first and/or the second ferrule may be arranged displaceable against the force of a spring or a similar element. At least one of the optical connectors may be arranged at an angle with respect to the circuit board to which it is attached. In a variation one of the connectors is arranged substantially perpendicular to the circuit board to which it is attached as described hereinafter.

At least one of the optical connectors may comprise compensation means to compensate misalignment at least in a lateral direction as mentioned above. The compensation means may be e.g. incorporated into at least one support which interconnects a mounting base and a housing part of at least one of the connectors. In an embodiment the support comprises at least one leg which is deflectable in a lateral direction. If appropriate, several legs may be present. If appropriate, at least one of the optical connectors may comprise at least one optical fiber by which the ferrule is interconnected to the waveguide of the respective circuit board.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the concepts disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:

Fig. 1 In a perspective manner an optical connector assembly arranged in a housing;

Fig. 2 The optical connector assembly according to Figure 1 outside of the housing;

Fig. 3 A partially cut connector assembly in an unplugged state in a perspective manner from the front and above;

Fig. 4 The partially cut connector assembly according to Figure 3 in a perspective manner from the rear and above;

Fig. 5 The connector assembly according to Figure 3 in a plugged state in a perspective manner from the front and above;

Fig. 6 The connector assembly according to Figure 5 in a perspective manner from the rear and above;

Fig. 7 A first connector of the connector assembly in a disassembled manner; Fig. 8 A second connector of the connector assembly in a disassembled manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

Figure 1 shows an optical connector assembly 1 according to the invention in a perspective manner. Figure 2 shows the optical connector assembly 1 in a section view in a perspective manner from the front and above. Figure 3 shows a close- up view of the optical connector assembly 1 in a disconnected manner from the front and above. Figure 4 shows the connector assembly 1 according to Figure 3 from the back and above. Figure 5 shows a close-up view of the optical connector assembly 1 in an interconnected manner from the front and above. Figure 6 shows the connector assembly 1 according to Figure 5 from the back and above. Figure 7 shows a first connector 1 0 in an exploded view and Figure 8 shows a second connector 1 1 in an exploded view. The optical connector assembly 1 is foreseen to optically interconnect first optical waveguides 2 of a first circuit board 3, e.g. a linecard 4, with a second optical waveguides 5, of a second circuit board 6, e.g. a backplane 7. The first and the second circuit board 3 , 6 are normally arranged at an angle to each other out of 5 plane. The angle is typically 90°, although the optical connector assembly 1 can be designed for other angles if required. The first and the second circuit board 3 , 6 can be centered with respect to each other by centering means 8. As visible in Figure 1 , the first and the second circuit boards 3 , 6 may be arranged in a case 9.

The optical connector assembly 1 as shown comprises a first connector 1 0 which i o in an assembled position is attached to the first circuit board 3 and a second connector 1 1 which in an assembled position is attached to the second circuit board 6. The first and the second connector 1 0, 1 1 are foreseen to interconnect to each other in the direction of a connecting axis 1 2 (axial direction, resp. x- direction ) .

1 5 Normally at least one of the first and/or the second connector 1 0, 1 1 is arranged out of plane with respect to at least one the circuit boards 3 , 6, while the other may be arranged in plane with respect to its circuit board 3 , 6. In preferred embodiment the second connector 1 1 is arranged at an angle of 90° with respect to the second circuit board 6 of the backplane 7 , while the first connector 1 0 is 0 arranged parallel to the first circuit board 3 of the linecard 4. Several optical connector assemblys 1 can be arranged parallel and next to each other. In Figure 7 the mounting and assembly of a first connector 1 0 is briefly shown. A first adapter 1 3 may be foreseen to connect the first connector 1 0 to the first wave guides 2 arranged in the first circuit board 3. The first adapter 1 3 can be foreseen to act as position help mainly during assembly of the first connector 1 0. Thereby it may have a positive effect on the precision of how the first waveguides 2 are interconnected to the first connector 1 0. The first adapter 1 3 matches to a first recess 1 4 of the first circuit board 3. As it can be seen in Figure 7, the first waveguides 2 end in the recess 1 4. The first adapter 1 3 comprises first V-grooves 1 5 which correspond to the arrangement of the first waveguides 2.

To mount the first connector 1 0 to the first circuit board 3, in a first step the first adapter 1 3 is positioned in the recess such that the V-grooves 1 5 are aligned to the first waveguides 2. The first adapter 1 3 is then securely fastened to the first circuit board in this position. Good results can be achieved when the first adapter 1 3 is glued to the first circuit board and/or attached by bolts 27 to it.

In a second step a first ferrule holder (inner housing) 1 6 is interconnected to the first adapter 1 3. The first ferrule holder 1 6 and the first adapter 1 3 are designed such that they match with respect to each other. Therefore, they comprise first and second alignment means 1 7, 1 8, e.g. in the form of conically shaped sections, which interact with each other and thereby, precisely position the first inner housing part 1 6 and a rear end 20 of therein arranged first optical fibers 1 9. Rear ends 20 of the first optical fibers 1 9 are arranged in the first V-grooves 1 5 (see Detail C). Thereby, they may be precisely positioned with respect to the first waveguides 2 extending from the first circuit board 3. Good results may be achieved when the first optical fibers 1 9 are attached to the V-grooves 1 5 by glue. Normally this takes place before assembly. The front end of the first optical fibers 1 9 is terminated in a first ferrule 2 1 which is attached to the first ferrule holder 1 6, e.g. by a snap connection. Depending on the field of application, the first ferrule 2 1 can be attached to the first ferrule holder 1 6 in a floating manner and/or in a rigid manner. A first outer housing part 22 is positioned over and interconnected to the first ferrule holder 1 6. The first outer housing part is foreseen to mechanically interconnect to the second connector part 1 1 as described hereinafter.

In Figure 8 the mounting and assembly of a second connector 1 1 is described. A second adapter 23 may be foreseen to connect the second connector 1 1 to the second wave guides 5 extending from the second circuit board 6 (backplane) . The second adapter 23 may be foreseen to act as position help mainly during assembly of the second connector 1 1 . It can have a positive effect on the precision of how the second waveguides 5 are interconnected to the second connector 1 1 . The first adapter 23 matches to a second recess 24 of the second circuit board 6. Second waveguides 5 end in the second recess 24. The first adapter 23 comprises second V-grooves 25 which correspond to the arrangement of the first waveguides 2. To mount the first connector 1 1 to the first circuit board 6, in a first step the second adapter 23 is positioned in the recess 24 such that the V-grooves 25 are aligned to the second waveguides 5. The second adapter 23 is then securely fastened to the second circuit board 6 in this position. Good results may be achieved when the second adapter 23 is glued to the second circuit board 6 and/or attached by bolts 27 , 28 to it.

In a second step, a second inner housing part 26 is interconnected to the second adapter 23. The second inner housing part 26 and the second adapter 23 are designed such that they precisely match with respect to each other. Therefore, they comprise a first and second alignment means 1 7, 1 8, e.g. in the form of one or several conically shaped sections, which interact with each other in one or several directions and thereby precisely position the second inner housing part 26 and a rear end 30 of second optical fibers 29. The rear ends 30 of the second optical fibers 29 are arranged in the V-grooves 25. Thereby, they are precisely positioned with respect to the second waveguides 5. Good results may be achieved when the second optical fibers 29 are attached to the V-grooves 25 by glue. Normally this takes place before assembly. The front end of the second optical fibers 29 is terminated in a second ferrule 3 1 which is attached to a second ferrule holder 32 , e.g. by a snap connection. In the shown embodiment, the ferrule holder 32 is arranged inside a second outer housing 33. The second outer housing 33 comprises a base 34 to which it is interconnected by compensating means 35 , here in the form of laterally (y-z-direction ) deflectable legs 35. Thereby, potential misalignments while interconnecting the first and the second connector 1 0, 1 1 can be effectively compensated. In the shown variation, the second ferrule holder 32 is arranged displaceable in axial direction with respect to the outer housing 34 of the second connector part 1 0.

As it can be seen best in the Figure 3 through Figure 6, the first connector comprises first latching means 36 which are foreseen to interact with corresponding second latching means 37 arranged at the second connector 1 1 . In the shown variation, the first latching means 36 are arranged at the first ferrule holder 1 6 and the second latching means 37 are arranged at the second ferrule holder 32. A first outer housing part 22 is positioned over and interconnected to the first inner housing part 1 6. The first outer housing part 22 is foreseen to mechanically interconnect to the second connector part 1 1 .

Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the Spirit and scope of the invention.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

1 Optical connector assembly 22 First outer housing part

2 First waveguides 23 Second adapter

3 First circuit board 25 24 Second recess

5 4 Linecard 25 Second V-shaped grooves

5 Second waveguides 26 Second inner housing

6 Second circuit board 27 First bolt (fastening means)

7 Backplane 28 Second bolt (fastening means)

8 Centering nneans (circuit boards) 30 29 Second optical fibers 1 0 9 Case 30 Rear end of second optical

1 0 First connector fiber

1 1 Second connector 31 Second ferrule

1 2 Connection axis 32 Second ferrule holder

1 3 First adapter 35 33 Second outer housing

1 5 1 4 First recess 34 Mounting base of second

1 5 First V-grooves outer housing

1 6 First ferrule holder 35 Compensating means (leg )

1 7 First alignment means 36 First latching means

1 8 Second alignment means 40 37 Second latching means 20 1 9 First optical fibers 38 First alignment means

20 Rear end of first optical fiber (ferrule)

2 1 First ferrule Second alignment means 40 Spring

(ferrule)

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Optical connector assembly ( 1 ) comprising a. a first optical connector ( 10) and a second optical connector (11), suitable to be interconnected to the first optical connector (10) in an axial direction (x), wherein b. the first optical connector (10) comprises first fastening means (27, 28) to attach the first optical connector ( 10) to a first circuit board (3), and/or the second optical connector (11) comprises second fastening means (27, 28) to attach the second optical connector ( 11 ) to a second circuit board (6), wherein c. the first optical connector (10) comprises a first ferrule (21) and the second optical connector (11) comprises a second ferrule (31 ), wherein said first and said second ferrule ( 21 , 31 ) are suitable to be interconnected to each other, and wherein d. at least one of the ferrules (21, 31) is arranged displaceable in the axial direction (x) with respect to an outer housing (33).

2. The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first optical connector (10) is suitable to be interconnected to a first waveguide (2) of the first circuit board (3) and/or the second optical connector ( 11 ) is suitable to be interconnected to a second waveguide (5) of the second circuit board (6).

3. The optical connector assembly (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one optical connector (10, 11) comprises an adapter (13, 23) by which the at least one optical fiber (19, 29) is aligned with respect to the respective waveguide (2, 5) at least during mounting of the connector (10, 11).

4. The optical connector assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the adapter (13, 23) is attached to the corresponding circuit board (3, 6) independently of a housing part of said connector (10, 11).

5. The optical connector assembly (1) according to claim 3 or claim 9, wherein the adapter (13, 23) comprises a first alignment means (17) to align with a second alignment means (28) arranged at the housing part of the corresponding connector (10, 11).

6. The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the optical connectors (10, 11) comprises at least one optical fiber (19, 29) which in a mounted position interconnects the optical waveguide (2, 5) and the ferrule (21,31).

7. The optical connector assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one optical fiber (19, 29) is at least partially arranged deflectable in axial direction (x).

8. The optical connector assembly (1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the first and/or the second fastening means are an adapter or a mounting base (34).

9. The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the first ferrule (21) comprises or is interconnected to first latching means (36) and the second ferrule (31 ) comprises or is interconnected to second latching means (37) which are suitable to latch with each other such that the ferrules (21, 31) are mechanically interconnected to each other when the first and the second connector (10, 11) are optically interconnected to each other.

10. The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the first and/or the second ferrule (21, 31) are attached to an inner housing (26).

1 1. The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the first and/or the second ferrule ( 21 , 3 1 ) are arranged floating in at least one lateral direction (y, z).

The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the first and the second ferrule (21 , 31 ) comprise means to align the first ferrule (21 ) with respect to the second ferrule holder (31 ).

13. The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 2, wherein the means to align comprise at least one pin and a corresponding hole to receive the pin.

The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the first and/or the second ferrule are displaceable against the force of a spring (40).

The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the optical connectors ( 1 0, 1 1 ) is arranged at an angle with respect to the circuit board (3, 6) to which it is attached.

The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 1 5, wherein the connector ( 1 0, 1 1 ) is arranged in substantially perpendicular to the circuit board to which it is attached.

17. The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the optical connectors (10, 11) comprises compensation means (35) to compensate misalignment at least in a lateral direction.

18. The optical connector assembly (1) according to claim 17, wherein the compensation means are incorporated into at least one support which interconnects a mounting base and a housing part of at least one of the connectors.

19. The optical connector assembly ( 1 ) according to claim 18, wherein support comprises at least one leg (35) which is deflectable in a lateral direction.

20. Connector (10, 11) suitable to be used in a connector assembly (1) according to one of the previous claims.

21. Circuit board (3, 6) comprising at least one recess (14, 24) suitable to receive an adapter and/or a base of a connector (10, 11) according to one of the claims 1 to 19.