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US5061033A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Removable optical interconnect for electronic modules

Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1990-12-03
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Granted: 1991-10-29
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Expires: 2010-12-03
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Abstract

Abstract A semiconductor die, either an optical emitter or detector, is attached to an end of an optical fiber. Electrical connections on the semiconductor die are electrically coupled to a circuit board of a module. The electrical coupling is maintained by a removable cover that holds the connections on the semiconductor die in contact with the circuit board. The cover, along with the optical fiber and semiconductor die, can be removed from the module and reattached without effecting the optical coupling between the semiconductor die and the optical fiber.

Inventors

  • 👤 Fred V. Richard

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 19:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/43; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/911

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 147 words
A removable optical interconnect for electronic modules which comprises: a circuit board having a plurality of semiconductors attached to the circuit board, and having conducting pads on the circuit board for providing electrical contact to the circuit board; an optical fiber having an end; a semiconductor die having leads for providing electrical contact to the semiconductor die; a sleeve for attaching the semiconductor die to the optical fiber wherein the sleeve covers a portion of the end of the optical fiber, covers the die on the end of the optical fiber, and extends an amount past the die; and a removable cover on the circuit board, the cover having an opening through which is positioned the end of the optical fiber with the attached semiconductor die, and wherein the cover presses the leads of the semiconductor die in contact with the conducting pads on the circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 147 words
A removable optical interconnect for electronic modules which comprises: a circuit board having a plurality of semiconductors attached to the circuit board, and having conducting pads on the circuit board for providing electrical contact to the circuit board; an optical fiber having an end; a semiconductor die having leads for providing electrical contact to the semiconductor die; a sleeve for attaching the semiconductor die to the optical fiber wherein the sleeve covers a portion of the end of the optical fiber, covers the die on the end of the optical fiber, and extends an amount past the die; and a removable cover on the circuit board, the cover having an opening through which is positioned the end of the optical fiber with the attached semiconductor die, and wherein the cover presses the leads of the semiconductor die in contact with the conducting pads on the circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 11 words
The optical interconnect of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The optical interconnect of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The optical interconnect of claim 1 including the sleeve attached to both the optical fiber and the semiconductor die by an ultraviolet curing epoxy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
The optical interconnect of claim 1 wherein the semiconductor die is an optical device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The optical interconnect of claim 1 wherein the semiconductor die is a surface emitting laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
The optical interconnect of claim 1 further including conductive elastomers on the circuit board wherein the conductive elastomers contact the leads of the semiconductor die and electrically couple the circuit board to the semiconductor die.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 90 words
A method for interconnecting electronic modules which comprises: providing a substrate having a means for providing electrical contact; covering the substrate with a removable cover having an opening; providing an optical fiber; maintaining contact between an end of the optical fiber and a semiconductor die wherein the semiconductor die has a means for electrical connection; positioning the semiconductor die and the optical fiber through the opening in the cover; and coupling the means for electrical connection of the semiconductor die to the means for providing electrical contact of the substrate.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 90 words
A method for interconnecting electronic modules which comprises: providing a substrate having a means for providing electrical contact; covering the substrate with a removable cover having an opening; providing an optical fiber; maintaining contact between an end of the optical fiber and a semiconductor die wherein the semiconductor die has a means for electrical connection; positioning the semiconductor die and the optical fiber through the opening in the cover; and coupling the means for electrical connection of the semiconductor die to the means for providing electrical contact of the substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 44 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the maintaining contact step includes holding the semiconductor die in contact with the end of the optical fiber by using a sleeve that covers at least a portion of the fiber and a portion of the semiconductor die.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 9 wherein holding the semiconductor die includes securing the sleeve to both the semiconductor die and the optical fiber by using an ultraviolet curing epoxy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the maintaining contact step includes holding an optical semiconductor in contact with the end of the optical fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the coupling the means for electrical connection of the semiconductor die step further includes coupling the means for electrical connection of the semiconductor die to a conductive elastomer that is electrically connected to the substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 71 words
An optical fiber connection for electronic modules which comprises: an optical fiber; a semiconductor die attached to an end of the optical fiber wherein the semiconductor die has a means for electrical connection; and a removable cover for the module wherein the removable cover presses the means for electrical connection of the semiconductor die in contact with electrical contacts on the module thereby electrically coupling the semiconductor die to the module.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 71 words
An optical fiber connection for electronic modules which comprises: an optical fiber; a semiconductor die attached to an end of the optical fiber wherein the semiconductor die has a means for electrical connection; and a removable cover for the module wherein the removable cover presses the means for electrical connection of the semiconductor die in contact with electrical contacts on the module thereby electrically coupling the semiconductor die to the module.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
The optical fiber connection of claim 13 further including the semiconductor die attached to the optical fiber by a sleeve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
The optical fiber connection of claim 13 wherein the semiconductor die is an optical device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 24 words
The optical fiber connection of claim 13 wherein the means for electrical connection of the semiconductor die includes leads attached to the semiconductor die.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 107 words
A removable optical interconnect for electronic modules comprising: a substrate having a plurality of semiconductor devices and electrical contacts; a removable cover for covering the substrate and plurality of semiconductor devices; a semiconductor optical device having electrical leads; an optical fiber aligned to the semiconductor device and held in alignment by a sleeve means; and an alignment means for holding the semiconductor device in alignment so that the electrical leads and the electrical contacts are in alignment so that when the removable cover is in position on the substrate pressure is exerted by the removable cover to maintain the electrical leads in contact with the electrical contacts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 107 words
A removable optical interconnect for electronic modules comprising: a substrate having a plurality of semiconductor devices and electrical contacts; a removable cover for covering the substrate and plurality of semiconductor devices; a semiconductor optical device having electrical leads; an optical fiber aligned to the semiconductor device and held in alignment by a sleeve means; and an alignment means for holding the semiconductor device in alignment so that the electrical leads and the electrical contacts are in alignment so that when the removable cover is in position on the substrate pressure is exerted by the removable cover to maintain the electrical leads in contact with the electrical contacts.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB2100067A Cited
GB2179208A Cited
US4927372A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-10-28 1995-04-29 1995-10-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-10-28 1999-04-29 1999-10-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-10-28 2003-04-29 2003-10-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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