Patent ID: 7033084

Claim:
A plug-in connector for connecting and transmitting signals in a form of light beams from a circuit board to a back plane, wherein the plug-in connector comprises: a) means for transmitting optical signals into the plug-in connector in the form of a plurality of glass fiber lines; b) at least one mirror having a first side adjacent to the back plane and an opposite side adjacent to the circuit board, said at least one mirror being coupled to said transmitting means for deflecting light beams at an approximately 90° angle in the plug-in connector; c) a lens system disposed adjacent to said first side of said mirror and coupled to said transmitting means, for coupling the light beams into the plug in connector; wherein said at least one mirror, said lens system and said plurality of glass fiber lines are coupled together in an input plane of said plug; and wherein said plug-in connector is formed as two symmetrical halves having a center plane extending along a plane for transmitting optical signals.