Patent AT186523B successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0237237A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0237237A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Mounting arrangements for optical conductors
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1987-02-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A mounting arrangement for mounting an optical conductor (36) on a "photonic" backplane (10) provides for simple, accurate positioning during installation and easy access to, and removal of, the optical conductor (36) when in service. The optical conductor constitutes a "busbar" in that it has a series of reflector surfaces (44, 46, 48) spaced along its length to permit distribution or aggregation of several light signals. In one embodiment, an individual support (38, 40, 42) is provided at each reflector/circuit card location. Each support (38, 40, 42) is a seating member (38, 40, 42) which houses a lens (58) to couple light between the optical conductor and a circuit card (12). In another, preferred, embodiment the optical conductor is housed in a groove or channel in a guide rail mounted upon the backplane (10). Separate cover members are releasably mounted upon the guide rail adjacent each circuit card (12). Each cover member has an aperture and lens to couple light between the reflector and the circuit card. The aperture and lens may be in a boss which couples in spigot-and-socket fashion with a tubular lens-carrying coupler mounted on the circuit card.
Inventors
- 👤 Jaroslav Marius Hvezda
- 👤 Jack Frank Dalgleish
- 👤 David Alexander Kahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; G02B6/42; G02B6/43; H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/80; H04B10/801; H04B10/803; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49221
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A mounting arrangement for supporting relative to a backplane an optical conductor (36) in the form of a rod of optically transmissive material having a plurality of reflector means (44, 46, 48) spaced apart along its length for reflecting light to emerge laterally, is characterized by at least one support means (38, 40, 42) having a seating (50) to cooperate with said optical conductor (36) to locate said optical conductor, securing means (52) for securing the support means to said backplane (10), and light-coupling means (58, 72, 74, 76) disposed adjacent said seating for conveying light between a reflector (44, 46, 48) disposed adjacent said seating, and an optical element (60, 62, 64) spaced laterally from said optical conductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A mounting arrangement for supporting relative to a backplane an optical conductor (36) in the form of a rod of optically transmissive material having a plurality of reflector means (44, 46, 48) spaced apart along its length for reflecting light to emerge laterally, is characterized by at least one support means (38, 40, 42) having a seating (50) to cooperate with said optical conductor (36) to locate said optical conductor, securing means (52) for securing the support means to said backplane (10), and light-coupling means (58, 72, 74, 76) disposed adjacent said seating for conveying light between a reflector (44, 46, 48) disposed adjacent said seating, and an optical element (60, 62, 64) spaced laterally from said optical conductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said support means comprises an elongate member (150) having at least one longitudinal channel (162) in one face thereof to receive a said optical conductor (164).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 2, characterized in that said light-coupling means comprises at least one cover member (166, 168) releasably attachable to said elongate member over said channel and having an aperture (182) to align with said channel (162) for light to travel between the underlying optical conductor in said channel and the associated optical element (60, 62, 64).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 3, characterized in that said light-coupling means comprises a lens (184) mounted across said aperture (182).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that said support means (150) has two channels and said light-coupling means is adapted to couple light between two optical conductors (36), one in each channel, and two optical elements, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 4, comprising a plurality of said cover members (206) securable along said elongate member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 5, comprising a plurality of said cover members (206) securable along said elongate member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a plurality of seating members (90, 92, 94, 96) each having a seating (98, 100, 102, 104) to positively locate the optical conductor to extend transversely thereto, and said securing means (106, 108, 110, 112) for anchoring the seating member to said backplane, and said light-coupling means comprises an aperture (114, 116, 118,120) extending away from the seating and the anchorage means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein in that said seating comprises an aperture shaped to conform closely to the shape of said optical conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said securing means comprise one or more spigots protruding endwise from said seating member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 8 or 9, wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of screw-threaded holes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said seating member comprises a lens (148) mounted in said aperture communicating with the seating and a surface of the seating member remote from said anchorage (146).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 10, characterized in that said seating comprises a lens (148) mounted in said aperture communicating with the seating and a surface of the seating member remote from said anchorage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 11, characterized in that said seating member comprises a lens (148) mounted in said aperture communicating with the seating and a surface of the seating member remote from said anchorage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said support means comprises a plurality of seating members, each having an aperture extending between said seating and a surface of the seating member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 15, characterized in that said aperture extends between the seating and the end of the seating member adapted to be secured to said backplane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mounting arrangement as defined in claim 15 or 16, characterized in that said light-coupling means comprises a lens (148) mounted in said aperture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus comprising a backplane and a plurality of circuit cards (12, 14, 16, 17) extending from one face thereof characterized by each circuit card carrying an optical element (60, 62, 64, 65), an optical conductor (36) mounted on the other face of said backplane, said optical conductor comprising an optically transmissive rod having a plane surface extending along its length and a plurality of reflector means (46, 48, 49) spaced apart along its length at intervals corresponding to the spacing of said circuit cards (12, 14, 16, 17), said reflector means each being inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said rod so as to reflect light travelling along the length of the rod to emerge through said planar surface and impinge upon the optical element on the adjacent circuit card or to reflect light leaving an optical element on said circuit card to travel along said rod.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus comprising a backplane and a plurality of circuit cards (12, 14, 16, 17) extending from one face thereof characterized by each circuit card carrying an optical element (60, 62, 64, 65), an optical conductor (36) mounted on the other face of said backplane, said optical conductor comprising an optically transmissive rod having a plane surface extending along its length and a plurality of reflector means (46, 48, 49) spaced apart along its length at intervals corresponding to the spacing of said circuit cards (12, 14, 16, 17), said reflector means each being inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said rod so as to reflect light travelling along the length of the rod to emerge through said planar surface and impinge upon the optical element on the adjacent circuit card or to reflect light leaving an optical element on said circuit card to travel along said rod.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18, characterized by support means (90, 92, 94, 96) for supporting said optical conductor relative to said backplane, said support means comprising a seating member having a seating to positively locate the optical conductor, securing means for anchoring said seating member to said backplane, and lens means for conveying light between a reflector means adjacent said seating and an optical element on the adjacent circuit card.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 or 19, characterized in that each said lens means (130, 132, 134, 136) is aligned with a respective hole through said backplane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 or 19, characterized by a second lens (72, 74, 76, 77) mounted one on each circuit card for cooperating with the associated first-mentioned lens means to convey light between the first lens and the optical element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 or 19, characterized in that said optical conductor comprises a planar surface on each opposite side of the rod, a plurality of reflector means spaced apart along one planar surface and at least one reflector means disposed in the other planar surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, characterized by an optical element disposed for optical communication with said at least one reflector means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in any preceding claim, characterized in that at least one reflector surface (44) extends across the entire rod.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus comprising a backplane and a plurality of circuit cards (12, 14, 16, 17) extending from one side of said backplane, characterized by at least one optical conductor (36) extending across said one side of said backplane transversely to the plane of each circuit card, said optical conductor comprising a rod of light-transmissive material having a plurality of reflectors (46, 48) spaced apart along its length for diverting light between a path along the optical conductor and a path lateral to the length of the optical conductor, the optical conductor (36) being mounted by means of a mounting arrangement comprising at least one support means having securing means for securing said support means (150) with one side towards the backplane, the support means having in its opposite side a seating (162), the optical conductor (36) being located by the seating with each of its said reflectors registering with the corresponding one of the plurality of optical elements that is on the neighbouring circuit card, the mounting arrangement further comprising light-coupling means (184, 186) for optically coupling each said reflector and each said optical device on said optical conductor and each said circuit card, respectively.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus comprising a backplane and a plurality of circuit cards (12, 14, 16, 17) extending from one side of said backplane, characterized by at least one optical conductor (36) extending across said one side of said backplane transversely to the plane of each circuit card, said optical conductor comprising a rod of light-transmissive material having a plurality of reflectors (46, 48) spaced apart along its length for diverting light between a path along the optical conductor and a path lateral to the length of the optical conductor, the optical conductor (36) being mounted by means of a mounting arrangement comprising at least one support means having securing means for securing said support means (150) with one side towards the backplane, the support means having in its opposite side a seating (162), the optical conductor (36) being located by the seating with each of its said reflectors registering with the corresponding one of the plurality of optical elements that is on the neighbouring circuit card, the mounting arrangement further comprising light-coupling means (184, 186) for optically coupling each said reflector and each said optical device on said optical conductor and each said circuit card, respectively.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 25, characterized in that said support means (36) comprises an elongate member (150) having at least one channel extending in its said opposite side, said optical conductor being seated in said channel, said light-coupling means comprising a cover member (168, 172) adapted to fit over said channel and having an aperture (182) to permit light to pass between the reflector and the optical element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 26, characterized in that said light-coupling means further comprises a tubular part (186) mounted on each said circuit card, and said cover member comprises a boss (180) extending away from said backplane, said aperture (182) being in said boss, the arrangement being such that said boss and said tubular part couple in spigot-and-socket fashion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 27, characterized in that the boss and tubular part each house a lens (184, 188) with its optical axis substantially aligned with said reflector and said optical element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 25, characterized by a plurality of optical conductors extending parallel to each other but spaced apart, one of said optical conductors being coupled to a transmitter (236) and serving to transmit light signals to a plurality of circuit cards (228, 230, 232, 234), a second (222) of said optical conductors being coupled to receive light signals from said circuit cards, and a third (220) of said optical conductors being arranged to convey signals from the second optical conductor (222) to a receiver (240), the arrangement being such that the signals in the first and second optical conductors travel in the same direction.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 25, characterized in that said support means comprises two parallel channels, each seating an optical conductor, said light-coupling means being adapted to provide two light paths, one for each optical conductor and a corresponding one of a pair of optical devices on said circuit card.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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