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
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
  • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
  • G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
  • G02B6/3817—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres containing optical and electrical conductors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
  • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
  • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
  • H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
  • H01R12/716—Coupling device provided on the PCB

Definitions

• the field of the invention is that of connector bases for electronic card to ensure both the electrical and optical connection. These connectors are more specifically dedicated to aeronautical applications.
• FIG. 1 To make this connector, the device shown in FIG. 1 is generally used.
• a base 1 is mounted on a printed circuit board 4 also called PCB, the acronym for "Printed Board Circuit”.
• This circuit comprises electronic components 5.
• a plug 2 comprising both electrical and optical contacts provides the connection between the base and a connecting cable 27 comprising electrical cables 28 and optical fibers 29.
• base 1 and plug 2 are presented separately for reasons of clarity.
• This base 1 comprises a mechanical frame 10 comprising housings comprising electrical contacts 7 and optical 8.
• This base 1 is maintained on the printed circuit 4 by mechanical means which also provide the electrical connection.
• the means shown in Figure 1 are, for example, conductive columns 9. It is also fixed on the frame 3 of the computer.
• the electrical connections with the electrical tracks of the circuit are made by means of conventional electrical contacts 7 also called pins, soldered on the circuit 4.
• the optical contacts are of the fiber type, that is to say a fiber segment 8 is connected on the one hand to the base 1 and on the other hand to an optical output of a conversion optoelectronic module 6 ensuring the transduction of optical signals into electrical signals.
• This module can be used either for transmitting or for receiving or for transmitting / receiving the optical signal. It is integral with the circuit 4.
• the optical output of the conversion module may comprise either optical connectivity or a fiber segment directly connected to the internal optoelectronic devices for converting the module. It is said that the module is "pigtailised”.
• the first solution that allows easy assembly and disassembly of the fiber is most often preferred to the second. It is used, in particular, with LC type optical connections.
• the base according to the invention avoids the use of optical fibers connecting the base and the optoelectronic conversion modules while eliminating the disadvantages of the integration of optoelectronic conversion devices in the base.
• the invention relates to a connector socket for an electronic card comprising a mechanical frame and at least one electrical contact, characterized in that it comprises at least one rigid optical contact placed in a housing of the mechanical frame.
• the optical contact comprises an optical fiber segment mounted in a mechanical ferrule. It may also include an optical fiber segment mounted in two adjacent ferrules, said ferrules having a common axis of revolution, the optical fiber segment being centered on said axis of revolution.
• the free ends of the two ferrules have different diameters.
• the housing and the optical contact comprise mechanical means of damping ensuring a flexible maintenance of the optical contact in the frame, so that said contact can slide freely inside its housing in case of pressure exerted on the one of its ends and resume its initial position when the pressure ceases, said mechanical means are essentially a collar located on the optical contact and a spring located in the housing of the optical contact and surrounding the optical contact.
• the base comprises at the end of an optical contact in contact with the plug an alignment sleeve, said sleeve for ensuring the optical connection blind.
• the base can be mounted on an electronic card comprising at least one optoelectronic conversion module in which an optical contact of the base comes into play, said card being integrated in a computer or an optoelectronic device.
• Figure 1 shows a connector base according to a first prior art
• Figure 2 shows a connector base according to a second prior art
• FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a base according to the invention
• FIG. 4 represents a detailed view of an example of an optical contact according to the invention
• FIG. 5 represents a three-dimensional view of a base according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 represents a sectional view of a base 1 according to the invention mounted on a printed circuit 4 comprising electronic components 5 and an optoelectronic conversion module 6.
• This conversion module can operate as a receiver. It then converts the light signal into an electrical signal.
• the conversion module can also operate as a transmitter. It then converts the electrical signal into a light signal.
• These components are generally of the OSA type, the acronym for "Optical Sub Assembly”.
• the component is a TOSA, acronym for "Transmitter Optical Sub Assembly”.
• the emission is then ensured either by a laser diode or by a VCSEL, acronym for Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser. ".
• the component is a ROSA, acronym for "Receiver Optical Sub Assembly” and generally comprises a receiving photodiode and a transimpedance amplifier.
• the base 1 essentially comprises: A frame 10;
• At least one optical contact 1 is provided.
• the optical contact 1 1 is plugged into the conversion module.
• the conversion module In order for the connection to be successful without significant optical losses, the conversion module must be perfectly positioned on the printed circuit board. To achieve this positioning, a mounting template positioned on the circuit is used during the soldering of the connection pins of the module.
• the base is purely passive and does not include active conversion components such as transmitters or photoelectric receivers. Thus, the base is independent of the parameters of the intended application such as the transmission rate, the transmission protocol, the direction of transmission, the optical wavelength ...
• the base and the associated plug can comply with the standards in force for conventional electrical connectors.
• FIG. 4 represents a detailed view of an example of an optical contact 11 according to the invention.
• the optical contact essentially comprises a mechanical ferrule 12 comprising an optical fiber segment 13.
• the ferrule is presented in a single mechanical part. Machining such a ferrule of large size can be complex and expensive.
• the optical contact may also include an optical fiber segment mounted in two adjacent ferrules, said ferrules having a common axis of revolution, the optical fiber segment being centered on said axis of revolution.
• the ferrules may be ceramic, zirconia which is a zirconium oxide or metal ..
• the ends of the ferrule in contact with the conversion module have a diameter of 1.25 millimeters, compatible connectors type " LUXCIS ", marketed by RADIALL.
• the extreme parts of the ferrule are not necessarily of the same diameter.
• the first end of the ferrule in contact with the conversion module has a diameter of 1.25 millimeters, compatible connectors type "LC” and the second end of the ferrule which provides the connection with the plug has a diameter of 2.5 millimeters, compatible with "ELIO" optical contacts, marketed by SOURIAU.
• the ferrule is placed in the housing 14. To ensure soft damping of the ferrule in its housing 14, it comprises a spring 15 and a stop 16.
• the ferrule 12 has a flange 17.
• the spring 15 is arranged around the ferrule in compression between the stop 16 and the collar 17. This arrangement ensures a very good optical contact between the ferrule and the conversion module 6.
• the latter comprises a transmitter or a receiver 61.
• the ferrule must include a braking system to prevent it from freely coming out of its housing when the base is not mounted on the circuit. However, this system must be sufficiently flexible so that the contacts of the plug can easily push the end ferrule into the connectors of the conversion module.
• a piece 62 of foam or flexible plastic is placed around the module after mounting of the base. This avoids any introduction of liquid or dirt which would degrade the performance of the optical link.
• the second end of the ferrule must comprise an alignment sleeve 19.
• This sleeve is held in a mechanical part 18 integral with the base and which can be dismountable so as to easily clean the free end of the optical fiber segment 13 .
• the optical connection base / plug can be provided by an optical contact having an optical ferrule 20 disposed in the plug 2.
• This ferrule 20 surrounds an optical fiber 21 located in the extension of the optical fiber segment 13.
• housing 22 of the optical contact also has a stop 24 which holds the ferrule in the housing and a damping spring 25.
• the spring 25 surrounds the body of the ferrule and is disposed between the bottom of the housing and a flange 23 disposed on the body of the ferrule.
• the optical fiber 29 is surrounded by a sheath 26, this sheath is held on the body of the plug by a flexible part 30 which ensures both the maintenance of the fiber and the seal in the sheet 2.
• FIG. 5 represents a three-dimensional view of a base 1 according to the invention. It comprises: • a frame 10;
• the shape of the frame of the base and the distribution of electrical pins and optical contacts can be performed according to a standard.
• the bases and the corresponding plugs can be of ARINC type, for example ARINC 600 or ARINC 404.
• the connector can be pluggable or "rackable” in a still called “chair” in French or "rack” or “airframe” in English terminology.
• the connectors can also be MIL or SUB-D type. In this case, the connectors are mounted and tightened manually.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
• Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
• Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34948615

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (15)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2004
  • 2004-09-17 FR FR0409886A patent/FR2875646B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-09-06 AU AU2005284217A patent/AU2005284217A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-09-06 EP EP05787065A patent/EP1790045A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-09-06 US US11/575,495 patent/US7429137B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-09-06 WO PCT/EP2005/054394 patent/WO2006029975A2/fr not_active Ceased
• 2007
  • 2007-03-15 IL IL181982A patent/IL181982A0/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events