Connecting mid-board optical modules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10073223-B2
Application number	US-201715800691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2017
Priority date	Dec 31, 2015
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

A clip connects two ferrules together, without a housing, to form a fiber optic connection. The clip has proximal and distal ends which define, and the clip has arms extending along the longitudinal axis to hold a cable-side ferrule in connection with fixed ferrule connected to a photonic module or die. The arms form an opening through which the cable-side ferrule is passed for connecting to the fixed ferrule. The arms have resilient bends forming a spring that can be resiliently extended along the longitudinal axis. The arms have a contact area at their ends which grasp the end of the cable-sided ferrule. The arms resiliently retract to compress the cable-sided ferrule towards the fixed ferrule with a predetermined force. The clip is positioned with respect to the circuit board using a pick and place system. The clip is not taller than either ferrule portion, enabling a limited vertical clearance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clip for securing two fiber optic ferrule portions together, the ferrule portions including a fixed ferrule of a standard preexisting size and configuration connected to an electronics board, and a mating cable-side ferrule of a standard preexisting size and configuration mateable with the fixed ferrule and connected to an optical fiber cable, the clip including:
at least one elongate arm each having:
a proximal end and a distal end;
the proximal end shaped to conform and attach to the fixed ferrule of a standard size and configuration;
a distal extension including at least one bend formed between the proximal end and the distal end, the at least one bend resiliently extendable by pulling the distal end to thereby stretch the at least one bend and increase a length of the arm between the distal and proximal ends; and
a contact area formed upon the distal extension near the distal end, the contact area engageable with the cable-side ferrule when the cable-side ferrule is mated to the fixed ferrule and when the at least one bend is stretched, the arm thereby operative to urge the fixed ferrule and cable-side ferrule into mating contact.

2. The clip of claim 1 , further including a loop connected to the distal end of the arm, the loop engageable with a tool to thereby pull the distal end to stretch the at least one bend.

3. The clip of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end is connectable to the electronics board.

4. A system including the clip of claim 1 , the proximal end connected to an electronics board.

5. The clip of claim 1 , each of the at least one elongate arms including a proximal extension extending from the proximal end in a distance opposite to the distal end, the proximal extension connectable to an electronics board, the fixed ferrule thereby supported off of, and at a distance from, the electronics board.

6. The clip of claim 5 , the extension forming a pad that is solderable to the electronics board.

7. A system including the clip of claim 1 , each of the at least one elongate arms including a proximal extension extending from the proximal end in a distance opposite to the distal end, the proximal extension connected to an electronics board, the fixed ferrule thereby supported off of, and at a distance from, the electronics board.

8. The clip of claim 7 , the proximal extension soldered to the electronics board.

9. The clip of claim 7 , wherein the proximal extension is attached to a laminate using at least one of solder, adhesive, and fastener, the laminate connected to a photonic die that is connected to the electronics board.

10. The clip of claim 1 , further including a panel connectable between the distal end and the electronics board, whereby the fixed ferrule is supported off of, and at a distance from, the electronics board, when the panel is connected.

11. The clip of claim 1 , wherein two of the at least one arms are mutually connected by a base.

12. The clip of claim 11 , wherein the base positions the two arms to lie on opposing sides of the standard fixed ferrule when a standard fixed ferrule is connected to the clip.

13. The clip of claim 11 , wherein the base includes bent prongs configured to matingly engage the standard fixed ferrule when a standard fixed ferrule is connected to the clip.

14. The clip of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bend includes a first bend turning in an outwards direction and extending along a first segment, a second bend extending from the first segment and turning in an inwards direction and extending along a second segment, and a third bend extending from the second segment and turning in an inwards direction to form the contact area.

15. The clip of claim 1 , wherein the fixed and cable-side ferrules are of a type selected from the group consisting of standard preexisting forms of MT, LC, MU, SC and ST ferrules.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the clip has a height transverse to a longitudinal axis defined as passing from the distal end to the proximal end, the height not substantially greater than a height of the fixed ferrule.

17. The clip of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bend urges the fixed ferrule and cable-side ferrules into mating contact with a force exerted between 3 and 15 N.

18. The clip of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm is fabricated using at least one of metal and plastic.

19. A clip for securing two fiber optic ferrule portions together, the ferrule portions including a fixed ferrule of a standard preexisting size and configuration connected to an electronics board, and a mating cable-side ferrule of a standard preexisting size and configuration mateable with the fixed ferrule and connected to an optical fiber cable, the clip including:
at least two elongate arms each having:
a proximal end and a distal end;
the proximal end shaped to conform and attach to the fixed ferrule of a standard size and configuration;
a distal extension including at least two bends formed between the proximal end and the distal end, the at least two bends each resiliently extendable by pulling the distal end to thereby stretch the at least two bends and substantially increase a length of the arm between the distal and proximal ends; and
a contact area formed upon the distal extension near the distal end, the contact area engageable with the cable-side ferrule when the cable-side ferrule is mated to the fixed ferrule and when the at least one bend is stretched, the arm thereby operative to urge the fixed ferrule and cable-side ferrule into mating contact; and

a base connected to the at least two arms to position the two arms to lie on opposing sides of the standard fixed ferrule when a standard fixed ferrule is connected to the clip.

20. A method of connecting mating ferrule portions together, the ferrule portions including a fixed ferrule of a standard preexisting size and configuration connected to an electronics board, and a mating cable-side ferrule of a standard preexisting size and configuration mateable with the fixed ferrule and connected to an optical fiber cable, comprising:
connecting at least one elongate arm to the fixed ferrule, each arm having:
a proximal end and a distal end;
the proximal end shaped to conform and attach to the fixed ferrule of a standard size and configuration;
a distal extension including at least one bend formed between the proximal end and the distal end, the at least one bend resiliently extendable by pulling the distal end to thereby stretch the at least one bend and increase a length of the arm between the distal and proximal ends; and
a contact area formed upon the distal extension near the distal end, the contact area engageable with the cable-side ferrule when the cable-side ferrule is mated to the fixed ferrule and when the at least one bend is stretched, the arm thereby operative to urge the fixed ferrule and cable-side ferrule into mating contact.

Assignees

• IBM
• Us Conec Ltd

Inventors

• Barwicz Tymon
• Bougie Jerome
• Childers Darrell
• Fortier Paul Francis
• Janta-Polczynski Alexander
• Martel Stephan L

Classifications

• G02B6/3898

  Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping (tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B) · CPC title

• G02B6/3826 Primary

  characterised by form or shape · CPC title

• G02B6/3897

  Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/381

  of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres · CPC title

• G02B6/3893 Primary

  Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on · CPC title