US5134508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical high-speed parallel backplane
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1990-01-29
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Granted: 1992-07-28
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Expires: 2010-01-29
Abstract
Abstract An optical backplane for use in a high-speed, parallel signal processing tem. A plurality of circularly shaped optical conductors are arranged in a cylindrical topology. A plurality of printed circuit card connectors are disposed radially about the perimeter of the optical conductors. Each connector consists of a linear array of optical transceivers. The lens of each optical transceiver is mounted in a socket provided at the perimeter of each optical conductor. The optical transceivers convert electrical data information from printed circuit boards plugged into the circuit card connectors into optical data information. The optical data information propagates throughout the optical conductor thereby allowing data to be shared by the printed circuit boards.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert J. Corda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/80; H04B10/801; H04B10/803; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2808; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4274; G02B6/428; G02B6/4284; G02B6/43; G02B6/4219; G02B6/4236; G02B6/4244; G02B6/4245; G02B6/4277; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0274; H05K1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An optical backplane for use in high-speed, parallel signal processing between a plurality of printed circuit boards comprising: a circularly shaped optical conductor for the transmission of optical data information, said optical conductor having concave sockets formed around the perimeter thereof; a plurality of optical transceivers, each optical transceiver being mounted in one of said sockets around the perimeter of said optical conductor, for converting data information received from the printed circuit boards into said optical data information, and for transmitting and receiving said optical data information directly to and from one another via said optical conductor; and means for electrically connecting each of said plurality of optical transceivers to one of the plurality of printed circuit boards.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An optical backplane for use in high-speed, parallel signal processing between a plurality of printed circuit boards comprising: a circularly shaped optical conductor for the transmission of optical data information, said optical conductor having concave sockets formed around the perimeter thereof; a plurality of optical transceivers, each optical transceiver being mounted in one of said sockets around the perimeter of said optical conductor, for converting data information received from the printed circuit boards into said optical data information, and for transmitting and receiving said optical data information directly to and from one another via said optical conductor; and means for electrically connecting each of said plurality of optical transceivers to one of the plurality of printed circuit boards.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical backplane as in claim 1 wherein said optical conductor is optically responsive only to the transmission of optical data information from said optical transceivers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical backplane as in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of optical conductors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical backplane as in claim 1 wherein each of said optical transceivers is within line of sight of one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical backplane for use in high-speed parallel signal processing between a plurality of printed circuit board comprising: a circularly shaped optical conductor for the transmission of optical data information, said optical conductor having concave sockets formed around the perimeter thereof and further having first and second planar surfaces impervious to light; a plurality of optical transceivers, each optical transceiver being mounted in one of said sockets around the perimeter of said optical conductor, for converting electrical data information received from said printed circuit boards into optical data information, and for transmitting and receiving said optical data information directly to and from one another via said optical conductor; and a plurality of circuit card connectors disposed about said perimeter of said optical conductor for electrically connecting said circuit boards to said transceivers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical backplane for use in high-speed parallel signal processing between a plurality of printed circuit board comprising: a circularly shaped optical conductor for the transmission of optical data information, said optical conductor having concave sockets formed around the perimeter thereof and further having first and second planar surfaces impervious to light; a plurality of optical transceivers, each optical transceiver being mounted in one of said sockets around the perimeter of said optical conductor, for converting electrical data information received from said printed circuit boards into optical data information, and for transmitting and receiving said optical data information directly to and from one another via said optical conductor; and a plurality of circuit card connectors disposed about said perimeter of said optical conductor for electrically connecting said circuit boards to said transceivers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical backplane as in claim 5 wherein said first and second planar surfaces are coated with an opaque paint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical backplane as in claim 5 wherein said optical transceivers are single element light emitting diodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical backplane as in claim 5 wherein each of said optical transceivers comprises a separate emitter and detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical backplane as in claim 8 wherein said emitter is a light emitting diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical backplane as in claim 8 wherein said emitter and detector are frequency selective.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical backplane as in claim 8 wherein said emitter and detector are responsive to polarized light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical backplane as in claim 5 wherein each of said optical transceivers is within line of sight of one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical backplane as in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of optical conductors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
An optical backplane for use in high-speed, parallel signal processing between a plurality of printed circuit boards comprising: a plurality of circularly shaped optical conductors for the transmission of optical data information, each of said optical conductors being optically isolated from one another and having concave sockets formed around the perimeter thereof; a plurality of optical transceivers, each optical transceiver being mounted in one of said sockets around the perimeter of each of said optical conductors, for converting electrical data information received from said printed circuit boards into said optical data information, and for transmitting and receiving said optical data information directly to and from others of said plurality of optical transceivers mounted around a common optical conductor; and a plurality of circuit card connectors disposed about said perimeter of said conductors for electrically connecting said circuit boards to said optical transceivers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
142 words
An optical backplane for use in high-speed, parallel signal processing between a plurality of printed circuit boards comprising: a plurality of circularly shaped optical conductors for the transmission of optical data information, each of said optical conductors being optically isolated from one another and having concave sockets formed around the perimeter thereof; a plurality of optical transceivers, each optical transceiver being mounted in one of said sockets around the perimeter of each of said optical conductors, for converting electrical data information received from said printed circuit boards into said optical data information, and for transmitting and receiving said optical data information directly to and from others of said plurality of optical transceivers mounted around a common optical conductor; and a plurality of circuit card connectors disposed about said perimeter of said conductors for electrically connecting said circuit boards to said optical transceivers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical backplane as in claim 14 wherein said optical conductors are formed from plexiglass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical backplane as in claim 14 wherein said optical conductors are separated from each other by a material impervious to light whereby said optical conductors are optically isolated from one another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical backplane as in claim 14 wherein said optical transceivers are light emitting diodes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical backplane as in claim 14 wherein said optical transceivers are frequency selective.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical backplane as in claim 14 wherein said optical transceivers are sensitive to polarized light.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical backplane as in claim 14 wherein each of said optical transceivers has a separate emitter and detector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-28 | 1996-01-27 | 1996-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-28 | 2000-01-27 | 2000-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-28 | 2004-01-27 | 2004-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |