Patent US5367593A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5367593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical/electrical connector and method of fabrication
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-03
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Granted: 1994-11-22
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Expires: 2013-09-03
Abstract
Abstract An optical/electrical connector including a molded base having a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base and alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge. The base further having external electrical connections with first ends exposed and positioned in the well and second ends extending outwardly beyond a second outer edge of the base. An array of photonic components is positioned in the well and each aligned with a separate groove. The array is electrically coupled to the exposed first ends of the external electrical connections of the base. The grooves are filled with a plastic material to form optical waveguides from the optical ports to the first outer edge.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael S. Lebby
- 👤 Christopher K. Y. Chun
- 👤 Shun-Meen Kuo
- 👤 Davis H. Hartman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:00
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4219; G02B6/4228; G02B6/423; G02B6/4204; G02B6/421; B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/0074; B29D11/0075; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/1221; G02B6/4255; G02B6/4292; G02B6/4232
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector comprising the steps of: molding a base with a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further being molded with alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge; providing an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, and positioning the array in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith; molding external electrical connections into the base with exposed ends extending outwardly beyond the base; coupling the electrical terminals of the array to the external electrical connections of the base; filling at least the plurality of grooves in the base with curable plastic material; and curing the plastic material in the grooves to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector comprising the steps of: molding a base with a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further being molded with alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge; providing an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, and positioning the array in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith; molding external electrical connections into the base with exposed ends extending outwardly beyond the base; coupling the electrical terminals of the array to the external electrical connections of the base; filling at least the plurality of grooves in the base with curable plastic material; and curing the plastic material in the grooves to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector comprising the steps of: molding a base with a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further being molded with alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge, and the base further being molded with external electrical connections having first ends exposed and positioned in the well and second ends extending outwardly beyond a second outer edge of the base; providing an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, and positioning the array in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith; coupling the electrical terminals of the array to the exposed first ends of the external electrical connections of the base; filling at least the plurality of grooves in the base with curable plastic material; and curing the plastic material in the grooves to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector comprising the steps of: molding a base with a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further being molded with alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge, and the base further being molded with external electrical connections having first ends exposed and positioned in the well and second ends extending outwardly beyond a second outer edge of the base; providing an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, and positioning the array in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith; coupling the electrical terminals of the array to the exposed first ends of the external electrical connections of the base; filling at least the plurality of grooves in the base with curable plastic material; and curing the plastic material in the grooves to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of molding a base with external electrical connections includes molding the base with one of the male and female portions of an electrical plug in the base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of molding a base with external electrical connections includes molding the base with externally situated bump bonds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of molding a base with external electrical connections includes the step of molding the base with a leadframe therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the step of molding the base with a leadframe includes molding a leadframe in the base with first ends exposed and positioned in the well and second ends extending outwardly beyond second, third and fourth outer edges of the base to form a quad-flat-pack.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 6 wherein the step of coupling the electrical terminals of the array to the exposed first ends of the external electrical connections of the base includes the steps of providing a semiconductor chip having a first plurality of electrical I/O terminals and a second plurality of electrical I/O terminals, positioning the chip in the chip receiving well, and connecting the first plurality of electrical I/O terminals to the exposed first ends of the leadframe and the second plurality of electrical I/O terminals to the electrical terminals associated with the array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 2 including in addition the steps of providing a plurality of optical fibers each having a first end, molding the plurality of optical fibers into a package with a side formed to removably mate with the first outer edge of the base, and further molding the package with alignment guides designed to mate with the alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge so as to axially align the plurality of optical fibers, one each, with the plurality of grooves in the base.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
311 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector comprising the steps of: molding a base with a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further including alignment guides associated with the grooves at the outer edge, the base further being molded with a leadframe in the base with first ends of the leadframe exposed and positioned in the chip receiving well and second ends of the leadframe extending outwardly beyond a second outer edge of the base; providing an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, and positioning the array in the chip receiving well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith; providing a semiconductor chip having a first plurality of electrical I/O terminal, and a second plurality of electrical I/O terminals, positioning the chip in the chip receiving well, and connecting the first plurality of electrical I/O terminals to the exposed first ends of the leadframe and the second plurality of electrical I/O terminals to the electrical terminals associated with the array; filling at least the plurality of grooves in the base with curable plastic material; curing the plastic material in the grooves to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base; providing a plurality of optical fibers each having a first end; and molding the plurality of optical fibers into a package with a side formed to removably mate with the first outer edge of the base, and further molding the package with alignment guides designed to mate with the alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge so as to axially align the plurality of optical fibers, one each, with the plurality of grooves in the base.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
311 words
A method of fabricating an optical/electrical connector comprising the steps of: molding a base with a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further including alignment guides associated with the grooves at the outer edge, the base further being molded with a leadframe in the base with first ends of the leadframe exposed and positioned in the chip receiving well and second ends of the leadframe extending outwardly beyond a second outer edge of the base; providing an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, and positioning the array in the chip receiving well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith; providing a semiconductor chip having a first plurality of electrical I/O terminal, and a second plurality of electrical I/O terminals, positioning the chip in the chip receiving well, and connecting the first plurality of electrical I/O terminals to the exposed first ends of the leadframe and the second plurality of electrical I/O terminals to the electrical terminals associated with the array; filling at least the plurality of grooves in the base with curable plastic material; curing the plastic material in the grooves to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base; providing a plurality of optical fibers each having a first end; and molding the plurality of optical fibers into a package with a side formed to removably mate with the first outer edge of the base, and further molding the package with alignment guides designed to mate with the alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge so as to axially align the plurality of optical fibers, one each, with the plurality of grooves in the base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical/electrical connector comprising: a molded base having a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further having alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge; the base further having external electrical connections extending outwardly beyond the base; an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, positioned in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith and coupled to the external electrical connections of the base; and the plurality of grooves in the base being filled with a plastic material to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical/electrical connector comprising: a molded base having a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further having alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge; the base further having external electrical connections extending outwardly beyond the base; an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, positioned in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith and coupled to the external electrical connections of the base; and the plurality of grooves in the base being filled with a plastic material to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
An optical/electrical connector comprising: a base having a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further having alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge, and the base further having external electrical connections with first ends exposed and positioned in the well and second ends extending outwardly beyond a second outer edge of the base; an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, positioned in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith and coupled to the exposed first ends of the external electrical connections of the base; and the plurality of grooves in the base being filled with a plastic material to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
154 words
An optical/electrical connector comprising: a base having a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further having alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge, and the base further having external electrical connections with first ends exposed and positioned in the well and second ends extending outwardly beyond a second outer edge of the base; an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, positioned in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith and coupled to the exposed first ends of the external electrical connections of the base; and the plurality of grooves in the base being filled with a plastic material to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 11 wherein the external electrical connections include one of a male and a female portion of an electrical plug molded in the base.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 11 wherein the external electrical connections include externally situated bump bonds.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 11 wherein the external electrical connections include a leadframe molded in the base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 14 wherein the leadframe includes a leadframe molded in the base with first ends exposed and positioned in the well and second ends extending outwardly beyond second, third and fourth outer edges of the base to form a quad-flat-pack.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
An optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 11 including in addition a semiconductor chip having a first plurality of electrical I/O terminals and a second plurality of electrical I/O terminals, the chip being positioned in the well and connecting the first plurality of electrical I/O terminals to the exposed first ends of the leadframe and the second plurality of electrical I/O terminals to the electrical terminals associated with the array.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
An optical/electrical connector as claimed in claim 11 including in addition a plurality of optical fibers each having a first end, molded into a package with a side formed to removably mate with the first outer edge of the base, and the package further including alignment guides designed to mate with the alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge so as to axially align the plurality of optical fibers, one each, with the plurality of grooves in the base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
239 words
An optical/electrical connector comprising: a molded base having a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further having alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge, and the base further having one of a male and a female portion of an electrical plug molded in the base with first ends exposed and positioned in the well and second ends extending outwardly beyond a second outer edge of the base; an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, positioned in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith and coupled to the exposed first ends of the portion of an electrical plug; the plurality of grooves in the base being filled with a plastic material to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base; and a plurality of optical fibers each having a first end, molded into a package with a side formed to removably mate with the first outer edge of the base, and the package further including alignment guides designed to mate with the alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge so as to axially align the plurality of optical fibers, one each, with the plurality of grooves in the base.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
239 words
An optical/electrical connector comprising: a molded base having a well and a plurality of grooves extending from the well to a first outer edge of the base, the base further having alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge, and the base further having one of a male and a female portion of an electrical plug molded in the base with first ends exposed and positioned in the well and second ends extending outwardly beyond a second outer edge of the base; an array of photonic components, each having an optical port, positioned in the well of the base with the optical ports each aligned with a separate groove, the array further having electrical terminals associated therewith and coupled to the exposed first ends of the portion of an electrical plug; the plurality of grooves in the base being filled with a plastic material to form optical waveguides from the optical ports of the array to the first outer edge of the base; and a plurality of optical fibers each having a first end, molded into a package with a side formed to removably mate with the first outer edge of the base, and the package further including alignment guides designed to mate with the alignment guides associated with the grooves at the first outer edge so as to axially align the plurality of optical fibers, one each, with the plurality of grooves in the base.
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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) | 1997-11-21 | 1998-05-23 | 1998-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-21 | 2002-05-23 | 2002-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-21 | 2006-05-23 | 2006-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |