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US5963689A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Substrate edge connnector

Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
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Filing: 1997-12-19
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Granted: 1999-10-05
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Expires: 2017-12-19
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Abstract

Abstract A combined optical and electrical interconnection means for interconnection of in particular chip modules has an elastic layer of for instance silicone placed over the sharp edge or corner connecting surfaces where the interconnection is made. On the front surface the layer covers an end of an optical waveguide having a core and on the top surface the layer carries an electrically conducting area connected to an electric transmission line. The front surfaces are pressed against each other connecting the ends of the optical waveguides. On the top surface the conducting area is in contact with interconnected electrically conducting areas on a surface of a connector strip. This interconnection structure is able to connect densely located electrical lines and optical waveguides not requiring any fan-out configuration. It is particularly suited for interconnecting compact multi-chip modules and similar devices.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hjalmar Hesselbom

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 12:45
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/11; H10; H10W; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3817; G02B6/42; G02B6/43; H10W70/611

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 98 words
A combined electrical and optical edge contact for compact connection of a part to another part, the parts comprising electrical conductors and/or optical waveguides, the edge contact comprising a layer of an elastic, optically transparent material applied to a first surface of a part, which for interconnection is to be located at a corresponding first surface of another part, the layer being located to cover an end surface of an optical waveguide terminating at the surface, wherein the layer carries an exposed, electrically conducting area connected to an electrical conductor on that part, where the layer is located.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 98 words
A combined electrical and optical edge contact for compact connection of a part to another part, the parts comprising electrical conductors and/or optical waveguides, the edge contact comprising a layer of an elastic, optically transparent material applied to a first surface of a part, which for interconnection is to be located at a corresponding first surface of another part, the layer being located to cover an end surface of an optical waveguide terminating at the surface, wherein the layer carries an exposed, electrically conducting area connected to an electrical conductor on that part, where the layer is located.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 56 words
A connector unit to be used with a contact as set out in claim 1, comprising an electrically conductive pattern on a surface of the unit, this conductive pattern being adapted to come in electrical contact with an exposed, electrically conducting area of the contact, when the unit is brought to a position at the contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The connector unit of claim 2, comprising positioning means for positioning the unit in a position to contact the exposed, electrically conducting area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The connector unit of claim 3, wherein the positioning means comprise V-grooves in the surface of one or both of the part and the connector unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
The connector unit of claim 4, wherein the positioning means comprise V-grooves both in the surface of the part and in the surface of the connector unit and further guide pins cooperating with the V-grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 45 words
The connector unit of claim 3, wherein the positioning means comprise positioning bumps at the surface of one or both of the part and the connector unit, the bumps cooperating with edge regions or corner regions of the connector unit and the connector unit respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
The contact of claim 1, wherein the exposed, electrically conducting area is arranged to come in electrical contact with an electrically conducting area on a connector unit comprising interconnected electrically conducting areas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The contact of claim 7, comprising positioning means for positioning a connector unit in a position to contact the exposed, electrically conducting area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 65 words
The contact of claim 1, wherein the layer covers also a second surface located perpendicularly to the first surface, the electrically conducting area on the layer being located above this second surface and substantially in parallel therewith, the layer portion carrying the electrically conducting area providing an elastic, sliding electrical contact with a connector unit, when the part and the connector unit are brought together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 29 words
The contact of claim 1, wherein the layer continues uninterruptedly or contiguously from the first surface to the second surface over a corner or edge formed between these surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The contact of claim 1, comprising a separate or individual elastic layer for each pair of an electrical conductor and optical waveguide extending up to the first surface.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 76 words
A method of manufacturing an interconnection for interconnecting electrical conductors and optical wave guides located on two different parts, in particular two different semiconducting substrates, comprising the steps of: applying an elastic material to regions at the edges of the two different parts, where the interconnection is to be obtained, so that the elastic material covers the interconnection ends of optical waveguides of the two parts; and placing electrical conductors on top of the elastic material.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 76 words
A method of manufacturing an interconnection for interconnecting electrical conductors and optical wave guides located on two different parts, in particular two different semiconducting substrates, comprising the steps of: applying an elastic material to regions at the edges of the two different parts, where the interconnection is to be obtained, so that the elastic material covers the interconnection ends of optical waveguides of the two parts; and placing electrical conductors on top of the elastic material.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4891014A Cited
US4972050A Cited
US5180311A Cited
US5092782A Cited
US5818990A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-10-04 2003-04-05 2003-10-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-10-04 2007-04-05 2007-10-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-10-04 2011-04-05 2011-10-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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