Abstract:
The present invention relates to fiber optics. In this regard, embodiments of the invention may be construed as providing interconnection systems for optical media. An embodiment of the present invention includes an optical circuit pack assembly, an optical circuit board, a child board, an optical device having a front end and a back end, an optical connector, and an optical connector mechanism. As such, the optical device is mounted on the child board and the child board is in turn slidably affixed to the optical circuit board. The optical connector is mounted on the optical circuit pack assembly such that as an operator inserts the optical circuit board into the optical circuit pack assembly, the optical connector and optical device are obscured from view. Operation of the optical connector mechanism causes the child board to move along a longitudinal axis of the child board, thereby causing the optical connector and the optical device to become operably engaged.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The present invention is generally related to fiber optics and, more particularly, to devices, systems, and methods for interconnecting optical components.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    For a variety of reasons, modern communications equipment continues to be designed for processing data at progressively higher speeds. One reason relates to the desire to transfer video information between computers. Such data transfer has grown exponentially in recent years because of the Internet, and no decrease in growth is anticipated in the foreseeable future. In order to handle this growth, optical circuitry appears capable of meeting the demand because of the enormous bandwidth that an optical fiber can provide. Nevertheless, distribution equipment is still needed to route optical signals to the same locations. Therefore, optical connecting hardware needs to be sufficiently small to accommodate large numbers of individual fiber connections.  
           [0005]    Also of concern is communication congestion. One particular location where congestion occurs is on circuit boards that contain optical components (i.e., optical circuit boards) where individual input/output ports are provided to make connections on a per-fiber basis. At present, individual optical connectors are often mounted on the faceplate or front panel of an optical circuit board, or, in the alternative, the optical connectors may be installed in the backplane of an optical circuit pack assembly as a blind-mating single or multifiber array. Various problems exist with either, or both, of these methods. Being restricted to either the front panel or backplane necessarily limits the amount of space available for utilizing optical connectors. As well, the system in which the optical circuit board is being installed may be a midplane design with no backplane cables available, or may not even utilize a backplane. Where a backplane is available, an abundance of other backplane connectors (such as copper connectors or other optical connectors) could make the force necessary to insert the optical circuit board exceed a desirable value, thereby necessitating splitting up the insertion and connection forces.  
           [0006]    Thus, there is a need for improved devices, systems, and/or methods that address these and/or other shortcomings of the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention relates to fiber optics. In this regard, embodiments of the invention may be construed as providing interconnection systems for optical media. An embodiment of the present invention includes an optical circuit pack assembly, an optical circuit board, a child board, an optical device having a front end and a back end, an optical connector; and an optical connector mechanism. As such, the optical device is mounted on the said child board and the child board is in turn slidably affixed to the optical circuit board. The optical connector is mounted on the optical circuit pack assembly such that as an operator inserts the optical circuit board into the optical circuit pack assembly, the optical connector and optical device are obscured from view. Operation of the optical connector mechanism causes the child board to move along a longitudinal axis of the child board, thereby causing the optical connector and the optical device to become operably engaged.  
           [0008]    Some embodiments may be construed as providing methods for installing optical devices in an optical circuit pack assembly. In this regard, a preferred method includes the steps of: mounting an optical connector to an upper or lower fixed panel of an optical circuit pack assembly; mounting an optical device on a substrate; slidably connecting the substrate to an optical circuit board; slidably inserting the optical circuit board into the optical circuit pack assembly; and urging the substrate along a longitudinal axis of the substrate such that the optical connector and the optical device are operably connected.  
           [0009]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1A is a schematic of an optical circuit board depicting a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 B is a perspective view of optical devices and optical connectors as configured on a cutaway portion of a child board and fixed panel, respectively, in one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views of various stages in the process of connecting the optical devices and optical connectors, similar to those revealed in FIG. 1B, in an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views of various stages in the process of connecting the optical devices and optical connectors, similar to those revealed in FIG. 1B, in an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views of various stages in the process of connecting the optical devices and optical connectors, similar to those revealed in FIG. 1B, in an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1A is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, an optical circuit board  10  has been installed in an optical circuit pack assembly  8 . The optical circuit pack assembly  8  includes a fixed assembly  4  of optical connectors (not shown) and associated optical fibers  35  attached to the fixed panel  19 . Note, another embodiment of the present invention can include electrical vice optical connectors, or a combination of both. The optical circuit board  10  includes a movable assembly  6  supporting optical devices (not shown), associated optical fibers  35 , and an optical connector mechanism  20  for moving the movable assembly  6 . After installing the optical circuit board  10  in the optical circuit pack assembly  8 , the movable assembly  6  is no longer accessible and/or visible, and therefore an operator is unable to directly engage the optical devices with the optical connectors. Note, however, that the optical connector mechanism  20  is connected to the movable assembly  6  and remains accessible after installation of the optical circuit card  10 , because, in some embodiments, at least a portion remains outside the optical circuit pack assembly  8 . Furthermore, the optical connector mechanism  20  is configured to urge the movable assembly  6  as indicated in FIG. 1A. By so urging the movable assembly  6 , the optical fibers  35  may be engaged and disengaged so as to enable selective optical communication of the fibers. Because the operator typically performs this task from outside the optical circuit pack assembly  8 , and need not even view the optical device and optical connectors, the task of engaging and/or disengaging is referred to as “blind-mating.” 
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of a cutaway portion of an optical circuit board  10  and fixed panel  19 , after the optical circuit board  10  has been inserted into the optical circuit pack assembly  8 . As depicted in FIG. 1B, the optical devices  30  may be passive adapters for joining and aligning optical plugs  33  or active devices such as transceivers, lasers, detectors, LEDs, etc. The optical devices  30  are about to be connected to an array of optical connectors  32  that are attached to a fixed panel  19 , such as an upper or lower panel of a shelf in an optical circuit pack assembly  8 . In the embodiment of the present invention revealed in FIG. 1B, the optical devices  30  are first mounted on a substrate, in the instant case a child board  16 , which is in turn slidably secured to the optical circuit board  10  by child board card guides  18 . In the present invention, all of the optical connectors  32  comprise optical plugs  33 , which are inserted into an optical connector joining assembly  34  that attaches to the fixed panels  19 . The optical connector joining assemblies  34  are designed to provide the optical plugs  33  with small but limited amount of travel in the plane of the fixed panel  19  so that the optical plugs  33  can accommodate positional variations of the optical devices  30 . These positional variations are attributable to, for example, an accumulation of manufacturing tolerances on the optical circuit board  10 . The optical plugs  33  interlock with the optical connector joining assembly  34 .  
         [0018]    As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the present invention permits the optical plugs  33  to be slidably engaged wit the jack receptacles  31  of the optical devices  30  subsequent to the installation of an optical circuit board  10  in an optical circuit pack assembly  8 . Again, because optical plugs  33  and optical devices  30  are no longer visible to the individual installing the optical circuit board  10  at this point, this operation as referred to as “blind-mating.” In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2A, the optical circuit board  10  includes a faceplate  14 , a faceplate latch  15 , a child board  16 , child board card guides  18 , optical devices  30 , and a cam-action optical connector mechanism  20 . The optical connectors  32  are firmly secured to the child board  16  and the child board  16  is in turn slidably secured to the optical circuit board  10  by the child board card guides  18 . The child board card guides  18  restrict the child board  16  to a single axis of travel. The optical plugs  33  interlock with the optical connector joining assemblies  34 .  
         [0019]    The optical circuit board  10  is typically contained in an optical circuit pack assembly  8  and is mounted on a shelf using optical circuit board guides  12 . The optical circuit pack assembly  8  is plugged into the shelf and is typically held in place with a latch  15  on its faceplate  14 , the faceplate  14  being mounted to a side edge of the optical circuit board  10  that is opposite the leading edge  11  of the optical circuit board  10 . The faceplate latch  15  is designed to overcome the cumulative spring forces of any optical connectors  32  on the backplane  47  (not shown).  
         [0020]    As well, the cam-action optical connector mechanism  20  includes a first member  26  passing through the faceplate  14 . One end of the first member  26  is exposed through the faceplate  14  while the other end is rotatably secured to one end of the second member  28 , the opposing end of the second member  28  slidably engaging an aperture  29  formed in the child board  16 . Both the first member  26  and second member  28  rotate about fixed posts  27 . So configured, activation of the first member  26  from the faceplate  14  causes the child board  16  to be urged along its axis of travel.  
         [0021]    Also shown in FIG. 2A is the optical circuit pack assembly  8 , which includes fixed panels  19  (or midplanes), optical circuit board guides  12 , optical connectors  32 , and quite often a backplane  47  (FIGS. 4A and 4B). The optical connectors  32  further include optical connector joining assemblies  34  and optical plugs  33  configured to slidably engage but not connect with jack receptacles  31  of the optical devices  30 . The cam-action optical connector mechanism  20  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be used for the blind-mating of optical plugs  33  and jack receptacles  31 , thereby connecting the optical devices  30  to the associated optical fibers  35 . The operation of the cam-action optical connector mechanism  20  will now be discussed.  
       OPERATION  
       [0022]    Optical circuit board  10  is inserted into the optical circuit pack assembly  8 . Proper alignment of the optical circuit board  10  in the optical circuit pack assembly  8  is ensured by the optical circuit board guides  12  which engage the side edges of the optical circuit board  10 . Quite often (but not shown here), an optical circuit pack assembly  8  will include a backplane  47 , where blind-mating of optical connectors  32  may take place. The optical circuit board guides  12  ensure proper alignment for the connections on the backplane  47 . The faceplate latch  15  secures the optical circuit board  10  in the desired position, overcoming any spring-like forces due to connections on the backplane  47 . However, in the present invention, the blind-mating is to occur with optical connectors  32  disposed in the fixed panels  19 , vice the backplane  47 .  
         [0023]    After the optical circuit board  10  has been inserted in the optical circuit pack assembly  8 , operation of the cam-action optical connector mechanism  20  ensures optical plugs  33  properly engage the jack receptacles  31 . As seen in FIG. 2B, by rotating the first member  26  about a fixed post  27 , the second member  28  subsequently rotates about its fixed post  27 . A number of factors determine the proper positions for fixed posts  27 , such as the lengths of the first member  26  and second member  28 , and the required distance the child board  16  must travel to ensure proper engagement of the optical plugs  33  and jack receptacles  31 . As the second member  28  rotates about its fixed post  27 , the rotary motion of the end of the second member  28  engaging the aperture  29  in the child board  16  is translated into linear motion of the child board  16 , as dictated by the child board card guides  18 . Subsequently, as the child board  16  is urged along its axis of travel, the optical devices  30  attached thereto will be similarly urged, causing the jack receptacles  31  to engage the optical plugs  33 . As well, operation of the first member  26  in the direction opposite that used for engagement will set in motion a similar but opposite chain of events resulting in the jack receptacles  31  and optical plugs  33  becoming disengaged, thereby facilitating removal of the optical circuit board  10  from the optical circuit pack assembly  8 .  
         [0024]    Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B that similarly allows for the blind-mating of optical plugs  33  secured to a fixed panel  19  with the jack receptacles  31  of the optical devices  30  that are secured to the child board  16 . The optical circuit board  10  and optical circuit pack assembly  8  revealed here both include the same elements and are similarly configured to the optical circuit board  10  and optical circuit pack assembly  8  of FIGS. 2A and 2B, with one exception. The cam-action optical connector mechanism  20  of FIG. 3A includes a screw mechanism  21  and associated carrier mechanism  22 . The screw mechanism  21  has a restrained end  23  and an end that extends through the face plate  16 , having a rotary mechanism  24  to allow operation of the screw mechanism  21  subsequent to optical circuit board  10  installation in the optical circuit pack assembly  8 . The restrained end  23  is secured to the optical circuit board  10  such that rotation about the screw mechanism&#39;s  21  longitudinal axis is possible. One or more carrier mechanisms  22  are disposed on the screw mechanism  21  such that rotation of the screw mechanism  21  causes the carrier mechanism  22  to travel along the screw mechanism  21 . As well, each carrier mechanism  22  is connected to the child board  16  by a strut  25 . Each strut  25  is rotatably secured to a carrier mechanism  22  at one end and rotatably secured to the child board  16  at the other.  
         [0025]    After the optical circuit board  10  has been installed in the optical circuit pack assembly  8 , operation of the cam-action optical connector mechanism  20  ensures the jack receptacles  31  of the optical devices  30  and the optical plugs  33  properly engage. As before, the optical circuit board guides  12  ensure proper alignment of the optical circuit board  10  within the optical circuit pack assembly  8 , and the face plate latch  15  ensures the optical circuit board  10  remains in proper position. Manipulation of the rotary device  24  causes rotary motion of the screw mechanism  21 , which in turn causes linear motion of the carrier mechanisms  22  along the longitudinal axis of the screw mechanism  21 . The direction of motion of the carrier mechanisms  22  will depend on the direction of rotation of the rotary device  24  and whether or not a left or right hand thread is utilized on the screw mechanism  21 .  
         [0026]    As the carrier mechanisms  22  travel toward the restrained end  23  of the screw mechanism  21 , the linear motion of the carrier mechanisms  22  is translated to linear motion of the child board  16  via the struts  25 . As the child board  16  moves along the axis of travel dictated by the child board card guides  18 , the optical devices  30  are similarly urged, thereby causing the jack receptacles  31  to engage the optical plugs  33 . As well, rotation of the rotary device  24  in the direction opposite that used for engagement will set in motion a similar but opposite chain of events resulting in the jack receptacles  31  and optical plugs  33  becoming disengaged, thereby facilitating removal of the optical circuit board  10  from the optical circuit pack assembly  8 .  
         [0027]    Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4A, where the optical circuit board  10  has not yet been installed in the optical circuit pack assembly  8 . The optical circuit board  10  includes a faceplate  14 , a faceplate latch  15 , optical devices  30 , a plug-in connector  17 , and a cam/roller guide assembly  40 . The optical devices  30  are secured directly to the optical circuit board  10  as is the cam/roller guide assembly  40 . The cam/roller guide assembly  40  also includes a roller surface  41 . The optical circuit pack assembly  8  includes fixed panels  19 , optical circuit board guides  12  (the lower guide  12  has been left off for clarity), a backplane  47 , a backplane pin connector  13 , and an optical connector support board  48 . Note, unlike the prior embodiments, a backplane  47  is shown. The backplane  47  is not necessary to the present invention and is only shown to reveal how the present invention may be used in concert with backplane connections. The optical connector support board  48  is attached to a fixed panel  19  by rotary struts  45 . Each rotary strut  45  is attached at one end to the optical connector support board  48  and at the other end to a fixed panel  19 . A return spring  46  is connected at one end to the optical connector support board  48  and at the other end to the fixed panel  19  the rotary struts  45  are attached to. The return spring  46  is configured to resist the motion of the optical connector support board  48  during insertion of the optical circuit board  10  into the optical circuit pack assembly  8 . The optical connector support board  48  further includes optical plugs  33  secured thereto by optical connector joining assemblies  34  and a roller support  44  for the roller/follower  43 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4A reveals the optical circuit board  10  at a moment during installation when the roller/follower  43  has made contact with the roller surface  41  of the cam/roller guide assembly  40 . As the optical circuit board  10  is inserted into the optical circuit pack assembly  8 , the optical circuit board guides  12  will ensure the alignment necessary for the blind-mating of the backplane pin connector  13  with the plug-in connector  17 , as well as the optical plugs  33  with the jack receptacles  31 . As the optical circuit board  10  is urged along the optical circuit board guides  12 , the roller/follower  43  moves upwardly along the roller surface  41 . This causes the optical connector support board  48  to follow an arc as defined by the motion of the rotary struts  45  about their ends that are attached to the fixed panel  19 . Eventually, as the optical connector support board  48  rotates upwardly, the optical plugs  33  will engage the jack receptacles  31  of the optical devices  30 . Note that unlike the previous embodiments, in the instant case, the optical plug  33  is the movable optical connector  32  rather than the jack receptacle  31 .  
         [0029]    The optical circuit board  10  as finally installed is shown in FIG. 4B. Note that it is necessary to choose various dimensions and placements such that the backplane connections and midplane connections are operably correct once the optical circuit board  10  has been secured in its final position by the faceplate latch  15 . The faceplate latch  15  overcomes any residual spring force from the backplane pin connector  13  and plug in connector that could cause the optical circuit board  10  to “back out” of the optical circuit pack assembly  8 . To remove the optical circuit board  10 , the faceplate latch  15  is first disengaged, then the optical circuit board  10  is slid out of the optical circuit pack assembly  8 . Note that as the optical circuit board  10  is initially removed, a disengagement hook  42  engages the roller/follower  43 . The disengagement hook  42  insures a positive, initial disengagement of the optical plugs  33  from the jack receptacles  31 . As the optical circuit board  10  is further slid out of the optical circuit pack assembly  8 , the cam/roller guide assembly  40  no longer exerts force on the roller/follower  43 , and the return spring  46  exerts a force that subsequently causes the roller/follower  43  to travel down the roller surface. The optical circuit board  10  is therefore pulled by the return spring  46  in a downward arc, allowing the optical plugs  33  to fully disengage the jack receptacles  31  as the optical circuit board  10  is removed from the optical circuit pack assembly  8 .  
         [0030]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any preferred embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.