Bending an optical fiber into backplane

Abstract

A right angle bend mount for bending an optical fiber into the plane of a circuit board. The mount includes a base and a cover that is pivotably connected to the base by a hinge. A clamp is formed by a first pair of opposed surfaces of the base and cover adjacent the hinge. This clamp fixedly grips a ferrule portion of the optical fiber when the base and the cover are closed together. A second pair of opposed surfaces of the base and coverforms another clamp. This clamp fixedly grips a non-ferrule portion of the optical fiber when the base and the cover are closed together. A bent portion of the optical fiber between the ferrule portion and the gripped non-ferrule portion is disposed in a non-gripping gap between the base and the cover when the base and the cover are closed together.

1 . An electro-optical assembly, comprising: 
 an optical fiber;    a back plane defining an opening; and    a bend mount positioned within the opening formed in the back plane, the bend mount comprising: 
 a base defining a curved surface;  
 a cover connected to the base such that a portion of the cover is positioned adjacent to the curved surface of the base, the optical fiber being positioned on the curved surface of the base such that the base and the cover cooperate to bend the optical fiber.  
   
   
   
       2 . The electro-optical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bend mount further comprises a first clamp formed by a first pair of opposed surfaces of the base and cover, the first clamp adapted to fixedly grip a ferrule portion of the optical fiber when the base and the cover are fixed together in a closed position.  
   
   
       3 . The electro-optical assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the bend mount further comprises a second clamp formed by a second pair of opposed surfaces of the base and cover, the second clamp adapted to fixedly grip a non-ferrule portion of the optical fiber when the base and the cover are fixed together in a closed position;  
   
   
       4 . The electro-optical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bend mount further comprises a second clamp formed by a second pair of opposed surfaces of the base and cover, the second clamp adapted to fixedly grip a non-ferrule portion of the optical fiber when the base and the cover are fixed together in a closed position;  
   
   
       5 . The electro-optical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a bent portion of the optical fiber is disposed in a non-gripping gap between the base and the cover when the base and the cover are fixed together in a closed position.