US4733093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic apparatus with circuit cards and signals optically coupled therebetween
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1986-08-19
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Granted: 1988-03-22
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Expires: 2006-08-19
Abstract
Abstract Optical signals are coupled between circuit cards, electrically connected to a backpanel, by means of parallel elongate optical conductors formed by an optically conductive plastics moulding mounted on the backpanel. Each elongate optical conductor ends in an inclined face to direct an optical signal between the optical conductor and an optical signal source or detector on a respective circuit card.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan F. Graves
- 👤 Ernst A. Munter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:25
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/43; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4214; G02B6/4248; H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0274
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
Electronic apparatus comprising: a backpanel; a plurality of circuit cards arranged perpendicularly to and electrically connected to the backpanel; optical coupling means on said circuit cards for emitting optical signals to or receiving optical signals from the backpanel; and an optically conductive plastics moulding on the backpanel for coupling the optical signals between the circuit cards.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
Electronic apparatus comprising: a backpanel; a plurality of circuit cards arranged perpendicularly to and electrically connected to the backpanel; optical coupling means on said circuit cards for emitting optical signals to or receiving optical signals from the backpanel; and an optically conductive plastics moulding on the backpanel for coupling the optical signals between the circuit cards.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical coupling means comprises a focussing lens and an optical signal emitter or receiver disposed at a focal point of said lens whereby each optical signal is a substantially parallel optical signal beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the circuit cards are arranged in parallel planes and are removably electrically connected to the backpanel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plastics mounding comprises means integrally moulded therewith for mounting said plastics moulding on the backpanel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plastics moulding comprises a plurality of parallel elongate optical conductors each having reflecting means at the ends thereof for directing a respective optical signal to and receiving the respective optical signal from the optical coupling means of respective circuit cards.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plastics moulding comprises an elongate optical conductor having reflecting means for receiving an optical signal from and directing an optical signal to the optical coupling means of respective circuit cards.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the reflecting means at each end of each optical conductor comprises two end faces of the conductor inclined at angles to the length of the conductor and arranged such that total internal reflection of said optical signals takes place sucessively at said two end faces through a total angle of 90°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the plastics moulding comprises means integrally moulded therewith for mounting said plastics moulding on the backpanel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the plastics moulding comprises means integrally moulded therewith for preventing light coupling between the parallel elongate optical conductors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the reflecting means at each end of each optical conductor comprises a face of the conductor inclined at an angle of 45° to the length of the optical conductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the plastics moulding is disposed on the backpanel on the opposite side of the circuit cards, and each optical conductor includes at each end thereof a respective optically conductive extension which extends from the reflecting means through the backpanel to a position adjacent to the respective optical coupling means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the plastics moulding has a refractive index which is such that total internal reflection of said optical signals takes place at said inclined faces of the optical conductors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and including hollow tubular flexible dust seals each surrounding a respective optically conductive extension for engagement with the respective optical coupling means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the reflecting means comprises faces of the optical conductor each inclined at an angle of 45° to the length of the optical conductor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the reflecting means comprises, at each end of the optical conductor, two end faces of the optical conductor inclined at angles to the length of the optical conductor and arranged such that total internal reflection of said optical signal takes place successively at said two end faces through a total angle of 90°.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the plastics moulding is disposed on the backpanel on the opposite side of the circuit cards, and the optical conductor includes optically conductive extensions each of which extends from a respective reflecting means through the backpanel to a position adjacent to the respective optical coupling means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the reflecting means comprises, at each end of the optical conductor, an end face inclined at an angle of 45° to the length of the optical conductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the plastics moulding has a refractive index which is such that total internal reflection of said optical signal takes place at each end face of the optical conductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 and including hollow tubular flexible dust seals each surrounding a respective optically conductive extension for engagement with the respective optical coupling means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
Electronic apparatus comprising: a backpanel; a plurality of circuit cards arranged in parallel planes perpendicularly to the backpanel, the circuit cards being removably electrically connected to the backpanel; optical signal emitting means on a first circuit card for emitting an optical signal to the backpanel; optical signal receiving means on a second circuit card for receiving an optical signal from the backpanel; and an optically conductive plastics member on the backpanel for coupling the optical signal emitted by the optical signal emitting means to the optical signal receiving means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
89 words
Electronic apparatus comprising: a backpanel; a plurality of circuit cards arranged in parallel planes perpendicularly to the backpanel, the circuit cards being removably electrically connected to the backpanel; optical signal emitting means on a first circuit card for emitting an optical signal to the backpanel; optical signal receiving means on a second circuit card for receiving an optical signal from the backpanel; and an optically conductive plastics member on the backpanel for coupling the optical signal emitted by the optical signal emitting means to the optical signal receiving means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-22 | 1991-09-21 | 1992-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-22 | 1995-09-21 | 1996-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-22 | 1999-09-21 | 2000-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |