Patent ID: 12242120

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic illustrations. Identical reference signs are sometimes used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of similar elements may be drawn to different scales.

FIGS.1aand1bshow an optoelectronic module1from two different viewing angles, each in an exploded illustration.

The optoelectronic module1has multiple optoelectronic transducers2,2′ (defined in detail inFIG.1a), which may differ in terms of their design.

The optoelectronic transducers2,2′ each have a transducer housing20,20′ with internal transducer electronics arranged therein, as well as the electrical connections21,21′, which are connected to the transducer electronics in an electrically conductive manner and project out of the transducer housing20,20′. The optoelectronic transducers2,2′ furthermore each have an optical connection22,22′, which is arranged in the transducer housing20,20′ and may receive and/or emit light through a window in a housing wall of the transducer housing.

The optoelectronic module1has a module housing100, which is constructed in two parts and consists of a housing upper part11and a housing lower part12.

Transducer chambers120, into which the optoelectronic transducers2,2′ can be inserted in a form-fitting manner, are arranged in the housing lower part12. It is irrelevant here whether the transducer housings20,20′ of different transducers2,2′ may have different housing forms, since the transducer chambers120of the housing lower part12are adapted to multiple transducer housings20,20′ and are therefore suitable for accommodating the different transducer housings20,20′ in a form-fitting manner.

At a lower end, which is provided for contact with the printed circuit board4, the transducer chambers120each have a contact lead-through opening125(shown and defined inFIG.1B) in order for the electrical connections21,21′ of the transducers2,2′ to pass through and make contact with a printed circuit board4.

The housing upper part11can be latched to the housing lower part12by means of latching hooks117on a latching edge127of this housing lower part12. The housing upper part11furthermore has guide pins116and the lower part has guide cutouts126, whereby the joining of the two housing parts11,12is facilitated. The upper housing part11and the lower housing part12each have a common contact surface114,124with which they are connected to one another in the joined-together state.

Part of a cable channel is formed in this common contact surface in each case, namely an upper part118of the cable channel18is formed in the upper housing part11and a lower part128of the cable channel is formed in the lower housing part12.

The upper housing part11furthermore has a cable securing cutout19for each cable channel18, which connects the upper side15of the said housing upper part to the upper part of the cable channel118. To this end, the optoelectronic module1has a cable securing element10in each case, which can be inserted into this cable securing cutout119in a form- and force-fitting manner in order to secure an inserted optical conductor58in the cable channel18with strain relief.

The upper housing part11furthermore has an outer step113and the lower housing part has an inner step123.

The significance of these steps113,123can be seen fromFIGS.2aand2b. These show the assembled optoelectronic module1from the two different viewing angles. In this case, the two housing parts11,12together form the module housing100. A total of eight optoelectronic transducers2,2′ are installed in the module housing100.

Both the transducers2,2′ and the cable channels18,18′ here are distributed over two different planes, which are arranged offset from one another by at least a cable channel diameter as a result of the stepped design. It can be easily recognized that a higher packing density is achieved as a result. The manual insertion of the optical conductors51and the securing thereof by the cable securing elements10during mounting is also facilitated.

It can be seen particularly clearly inFIG.2bhow the electrical connections21,21′ of the optoelectronic transducers2,2′ pass through the contact lead-through openings125of the lower housing part12and project out of this for connection to a printed circuit board4.

This printed circuit board4, which is namely a component of an optoelectronic connector3and is arranged in the housing30thereof, can firstly be seen inFIG.3awith a restricted view of its mounting surface (not defined explicitly for reasons of clarity). On the said mounting surface of the printed circuit board4, two optoelectronic modules1are arranged and connected to the electrical connections21,21′ of its optoelectronic transducers2,2′ in an electrically conductive manner.

The connector3has a plug-in region31with plug contacts311, which are likewise connected to the printed circuit board4in an electrically conductive manner, i.e. plugged into the printed circuit board4. However, this connection/plugging-in is not illustrated in the drawing for reasons of clarity.

The connector3furthermore has a cable connection region32. Two cable outlets320are arranged therein. A respective optical cable58passes through each cable outlet320. Each cable has eight optical conductors51, four conductors51being grouped together in each case to form a bundle. One of these is defined by Tx. Its optical conductors are each provided for connection to those optoelectronic transducers2,2′ which are designed as transceivers (Tx). These transceivers (Tx) convert electrical signals of the plug contacts311into optical signals which they transmit to the optical conductors51, connected thereto in each case, via their optical connection22,22′. The other bundle is defined by Rx and is provided in each case for connection to those optoelectronic transducers2,2′ which are designed as receivers (Rx). The receivers (Rx) convert optical signals of the respectively connected optical conductors51into electrical signals which they transmit to the respective plug contacts311via the printed circuit board4via their electrical connections21,21′. There are therefore four supply lines and four return lines for each cable58. The housing30moreover has a display window330, which is still open in this illustration.

FIG.3bshows the connector3having the housing30, which has been closed by a housing cover (not defined in more detail). The arrangement shown here furthermore differs from that shown in the previous illustration in that the cable outlets32are closed by cable glands321, each cable gland321relieving the strain on a bundle of conductors which passes through it. The display window330is moreover closed by a dummy panel33.

This arrangement is modified for the connector3in the open state inFIG.3cand in the closed state inFIG.3din that, instead of the above-mentioned dummy panel33, a status display34, having a respective LED (light emitting diode) for each optical conductor51/each electro-optical transducer2,2′, is arranged in the display window300. As soon as signals are then transmitted via the respective optical conductors51or the optoelectronic transducers2,2′ connected thereto, the corresponding LED lights up to indicate this signal flow. To this end, the status display34is connected to the printed circuit board4, from which 4 it34receives the corresponding electrical signals.

FIGS.3eand3fshow a similar arrangement toFIG.3a, albeit without the connector housing30, from two different views.

The printed circuit board4can be seen particularly clearly in this illustration. In particular,FIG.3fenables a view of an underside (likewise not defined in more detail for reasons of clarity) of the printed circuit board4, which is opposite its above-mentioned mounting surface. Separation openings40are arranged in the printed circuit board4. By means of these separation openings40, securing elements10lying above them can be removed from the cable securing cutout119of the module housing100using a tool, e.g. a pointed object, for example an electric screwdriver or the like.

FIG.4ashows a first embodiment of an optoelectronic sub-distribution arrangement6in a schematic illustration.

This first sub-distribution arrangement6has a conceivably simple form and is formed by a central connector3of the above-mentioned type and two peripheral connectors3′, which differ from the central connector3in that they only have one optoelectronic module1in each case. The central connector3therefore has the exact same number of optoelectronic modules1as the peripheral connectors combined. The modules1of the peripheral connectors are each arranged on a printed circuit board4′, which only has eight traces in this embodiment (although it goes without saying that any other number is also possible). Accordingly, each of the peripheral conductors also only has eight plug contacts311′ in this example. On the cable connection side, the central connector3is connected at one of its optoelectronic modules1in each case to a respective optoelectronic module1of one of the peripheral connectors3′ via a respective optical cable58, which accordingly has eight conductors.

This embodiment has the advantage that its design is particularly clearly laid out and is unsusceptible to errors and therefore enables very simple mounting.

FIG.4bshows a second sub-distribution arrangement6′ having one central3and three peripheral connectors3′.

It can be seen from this illustration that the number of optoelectronic modules of the peripheral connectors3′ does not necessarily have to correspond to the number of optoelectronic modules1of the central connector3. Instead, the optoelectronic transducers2,2′ of these modules1may also be freely connected to one another as required via individual optical conductors51.

This embodiment offers the advantage of enabling maximum flexibility for the assignation of the plug contacts311,311′, whilst offering simpler mounting compared to the prior art.

The optoelectronic modules1of the central3and the peripheral3′ connectors may be identical in both embodiments.

Even where combinations of different aspects or features of the invention are shown in the figures in each case, it is clear to a person skilled in the art—unless indicated otherwise—that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible combinations. In particular, mutually corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments may be interchanged with each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1Optoelectronic module10Securing element18,18′ Cable channels100Module housing11Housing upper part110Transducer cutout133Outer step114Common contact surface (of the housing upper part)115Upper side116Guide pins117Latching hooks118Upper part of the cable channel119Cable securing cutout12Housing lower part120Transducer chamber12Inner step124Common contact surface (of the housing lower part)125Contact lead-through opening126Guide cutouts127Latching edge128Lower part of the cable channel2,2′ Optoelectronic transducer20,20′ Transducer housing21,21′ Electrical connections22,22′ Optical connections3(Central) connector3′ Peripheral connector30,30′ Connector housing31Plug-in region311,311′ Plug contacts32Cable connection region320Cable outlet321Cable gland33Dummy panel330Display window34Status display4,4′ Printed circuit board (inside the connector)40Separation opening51Optical conductor58Optical cableRx Transceiver (supply line)Tx Receiver (supply line)6Optoelectronic sub-distribution arrangement