Flexible optical interconnection system

Abstract

An optical connector system assembled from modular components. These components include connector modules that position ferrules for mating and providing fine alignment to fibers. The modules are assembled to support members to form connectors of various sizes. Mounting modules are attached to the support members. Various shaped mounting modules are provided, allowing connectors to be assembled for various configurations, such as a matrix configuration, a parallel board-to-board configuration or a panel mount configuration.

1 . An electronic assembly comprising:
 a) a first plurality of circuit boards, the first plurality of circuit boards disposed in the assembly generally parallel to each other, each of the first plurality of circuit boards having a forward edge;   b) a second plurality of circuit boards, the second plurality of circuit boards disposed in the assembly generally parallel to each other and generally orthogonal to the first plurality of circuit boards, each of the second plurality of circuit boards having a forward edge, with the forward edge of each of the second plurality of circuit boards facing a forward edge of the first plurality of circuit boards;   c) a first plurality of optical connectors, each mounted on a forward edge of one of the first plurality of circuit boards; and   d) a second plurality of optical connectors, each mounted on a forward edge of one of the second plurality of circuit boards, each of the second plurality of optical connectors shaped to form a blind-mate optical connection with one of the first plurality of optical connectors.   
   
   
       2 . The electronic assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the first plurality of optical connectors and the second plurality of optical connectors comprises at least one like optical connector module, each optical connector module forming a blind mate connection with another optical connector module. 
   
   
       3 . The electronic assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of mounting brackets, each attached to one of the first plurality of circuit boards, wherein each of the first plurality of optical connectors is mounted to a circuit board through a mounting bracket. 
   
   
       4 . The electronic assembly of  claim 3  wherein one of the first plurality of optical connectors is mounted to a circuit board through each mounting bracket. 
   
   
       5 . The electronic assembly of  claim 3  wherein a plurality of the first plurality of optical connectors is mounted to a circuit board through one mounting bracket. 
   
   
       6 . The electronic assembly of  claim 3  wherein each of the mounting brackets is L-shaped. 
   
   
       7 . The electronic assembly of  claim 3  wherein each of the mounting brackets comprises a first member secured to a circuit board and a second member secured to at least one connector in the first plurality of optical connectors, and the first member is between said optical connector and the circuit board. 
   
   
       8 . The electronic assembly of  claim 3  wherein each of the first plurality of optical connectors comprises at least one like optical connector module and a support member, attached to the at least one connector module, and a latching module attached to the support member, wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the latching module. 
   
   
       9 . The electronic assembly of  claim 8  wherein each of the second plurality of optical connectors comprises at least one like optical connector module and a support member, attached to the at least one connector module, and a latching module attached to the support member, with at least a first portion of the latching modules in the first plurality of optical connectors and/or the second plurality of optical connectors comprising a blade and at least a second portion of the latching modules in the first plurality of optical connectors and/or the second plurality of optical connectors comprising an opening adapted to receive a blade. 
   
   
       10 . The electronic assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the circuit boards comprises a printed circuit board. 
   
   
       11 - 30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . A method of providing optical connectors, comprising:
 a) providing optical connector components suitable for use in assembling an optical connector system, the optical connector components comprising:
 i) optical connector modules; 
 ii) support modules, each configured to hold at least one optical connector module in a connector subassembly; 
 iii) first type mounting members adapted to engage a support module and to mount a connector subassembly to a circuit board; and 
 iv) second type mounting members adapted to engage a support module and mount a subassembly to a circuit board and position the subassembly to mate with a connector subassembly mounted to a circuit board with the first type mounting member when the circuit board containing the connector with the second type mounting member is positioned in an assembly at a right angle to the circuit board containing the first type mounting members; and 
   b) providing third type mounting members adapted to engage a support module and mount a first connector subassembly to an electronic system and position the first connector subassembly to mate, in other than a right angle backplane configuration, with a second connector subassembly with a second type mounting member attached thereto.   
   
   
       32 . The method of providing optical connectors of  claim 31  wherein each of the third type mounting members comprises an angled member having a first surface and a second surface transverse to the first surface, the first surface adapted for attachment to a circuit board and the second surface adapted for attachment to a connector subassembly. 
   
   
       33 . The method of providing optical connectors of  claim 32  wherein each of the third type mounting member comprises a first type mounting member with an angled bracket attached thereto. 
   
   
       34 . The method of providing optical connectors of  claim 32  wherein the third type mounting member comprises two side portions, each having a slot therein and the angled member has a projection, slidably captured in the slots in the side portions. 
   
   
       35 . The method of providing optical connectors of  claim 32  additionally comprising attaching a first connector subassembly containing third type mounting members to a first board in a matrix assembly and attaching a second connector assembly containing a second type mounting member to a second board in the matrix assembly and forming a optical connection between the first board and the second board by mating the first connector subassembly and the second connector subassembly. 
   
   
       36 . The method of providing optical connectors of  claim 32  additionally comprising attaching a connector subassembly containing third type mounting members to a board in an electronic assembly, the assembly having a panel with an opening therein, the connector assembly being positioned with the at least one connector module of the assembly accessible through the opening in the panel. 
   
   
       37 . The method of providing optical connectors of  claim 31  wherein at least a portion of the support modules comprise elongated members having at least one opening therethrough, with the connector modules passing through the opening. 
   
   
       38 . The method of providing optical connectors of  claim 31  wherein at least a portion of the support modules comprise metal housings. 
   
   
       39 . The method of providing optical connectors of  claim 31  wherein each of the first type mounting members comprises a first side portion joined to as second side portion to form a cavity to receive a blade from a mating connector and each of the third type mounting member comprises a said first side portion joined to a said second side portion and a blade member having features engaging the first side portion and/or the second side portion. 
   
   
       40 . The method of providing an optical connector of  claim 39  wherein the blade member has a face with panel attachment features thereon. 
   
   
       41 . An electronic assembly comprising:
 a) a first plurality of circuit boards, the first plurality of printed circuit boards disposed in the assembly generally parallel to each other, each of the first plurality of printed circuit boards having a forward edge;   b) a second plurality of circuit boards, the second plurality of printed circuit boards disposed in the assembly generally parallel to each other, each of the second plurality of printed circuit boards having a forward edge, with the forward edge of each of the second plurality of printed circuit boards facing a forward edge of the first plurality of printed circuit boards;   c) a first plurality of optical connectors, each mounted on a forward edge of one of the first plurality of circuit boards; and   d) a second plurality of optical connectors, each mounted on a forward edge of one of the second plurality of circuit boards, each of the second plurality of optical connectors shaped to form a blind-mate optical connection with one of the first plurality of optical connectors.   
   
   
       42 . The electronic assembly of  claim 41  wherein the first plurality of printed circuit boards and the second plurality of printed circuit boards are parallel to each other.