Signaling media, apparatus, and systems

Abstract

Connectors, signaling assemblies, circuit boards, and communication systems are disclosed. Some embodiments include signaling media having a plurality of optical and electrical signal conductors.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/995,434, filed on Nov. 27, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The embodiments disclosed relate generally to media and apparatus used to carry electrical and optical signals.

BACKGROUND

[0003] High-speed microprocessor systems may give rise to the need for high-speed signal interfaces. While microprocessor clock operational speeds now routinely exceed 1 GHz, off-board input/output interfaces typically run at speeds of less than 100 MHz. This limitation may exist, in part, due to crosstalk between adjacent electrical channels. While electrical conductors can be spaced apart to reduce the problem, the loss of circuit board surface area and connection density may not be tolerable. Over distance, signal amplitude loss and noise may also become a problem.

[0004] Optical media may carry signals having modulation frequencies in excess of several GHz without appreciable loss of signal strength or an increase in noise over distance. However, a purely optical interface is often not required for routine interface operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is an end section view of a signaling medium according to various embodiments of the invention;

[0006] FIG. 2 is an end section view of a signaling medium according to various embodiments of the invention;

[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector and signaling assembly according to various embodiments of the invention;

[0008] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a circuit board according to various embodiments of the invention; and

[0009] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a signal communication system according to various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] FIG. 1 is an end section view of a signaling medium according to various embodiments of the invention. The signaling medium 100 includes a plurality of spaced apart optical signal media 110, and a plurality of electrical signal conductors 120. At least one, and usually several, of the electrical signal conductors 120 is disposed between selected ones of the plurality of optical signal media 110. As used herein, “disposed between” means that the center of a selected electrical signal conductor, along with the center of two selected optical signal media, forms an angle which is between about 50 degrees and about 180 degrees. Thus, for example, the center 121 of one of the electrical signal conductors 120 forms the apex of an angle &agr;, when taken in conjunction with imaginary lines drawn from the center 121 to the centers 122 and 123 of selected optical signal media 110. In this case, the angle &agr; is about 180 degrees. Similarly, the center 121 of one of the electrical signal conductors 120 is located at the apex of an angle &bgr;, when taken in conjunction with imaginary lines drawn from the center 121 to the centers 123 and 124 of selected optical signal media 110. In this case, the angle &bgr; is about 90 degrees. As a further example, the center 125 of another selected electrical conductor 120 is disposed between the optical signal media 110 having centers 123 and 124. Thus, the electrical signal conductors 120 having centers 121 and 125 are disposed between the optical signal media 110 having centers 123 and 124.

[0011] In some embodiments, the signaling medium 100 may also include an electrically conductive shield 126 surrounding the optical signal media 110 and the electrical signal conductors 120. To prevent shorting to the electrical signal conductors 120, the shield 126 may be spaced apart from the electrical signal conductors 120.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an end section view of a signaling medium according to various embodiments of the invention. In this case, the signaling medium 200 illustrates how several pluralities of optical signal media 210, along with several pluralities of electrical signal conductors 220, might be arranged into groups. Each group includes an electrically conductive shield 226 surrounding one plurality of spaced apart optical signal media 210 and another plurality of electrical signal conductors 220. While each shield 226 is spaced apart from pluralities of electrical signal conductors 220 which it surrounds, each shield 226 in the medium 200 is typically connected or electrically coupled to another shield 226 at some point 227 along its periphery.

[0013] Within each shield 226, it can be seen that the electrical signal conductors 220 each have a cross-sectional area A1, while the optical signal media 210 each have a cross-sectional area A2. The medium 200 may be designed so that the cross-sectional area A1 of each one of the electrical signal connectors 220 within a shield 226 grouping will lie within a substantially circular area 228. Similarly, the medium 200 may be designed so that the cross-sectional area A2 of each one of the optical signal connectors 210 within a shield 226 grouping will also lie within a substantially circular area 229. If the optical signal media 210 lie toward the outer periphery of each shield 226 grouping, then the diameter of the substantially circular area 228 surrounding the electrical signal conductors 220 may be less than the diameter of the substantially circular area 229 surrounding the optical signal media 210. Another electrically conductive shield 230 may be electrically coupled to each of the shields 226, and located so as to surround all of the shield 226 groupings of optical signal media and electrical signal conductors 210, 220.

[0014] Further details regarding construction of the signaling medium in some embodiments can be seen in FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of a connector and signaling assembly according to various embodiments of the invention. In this case, the medium 300 may include a plurality of spaced apart optical signal media 310, each having a longitudinal axis 332, and a plurality of electrical signal conductors 320, each having a longitudinal axis 334. If desired, the medium 300 may be constructed so that the longitudinal axes 332 of each of the optical signal media 310 lie substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 332 of every other one of the plurality of optical signal media 310. Similarly, the medium 300 may be designed so that the longitudinal axes 334 of each one of the electrical signal conductors 320 lie substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 334 of every other one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors 320. An electrically conductive shield 326 may be located so as to surround the pluralities of optical signal media and electrical signal conductors 310, 320.

[0015] A connector according to yet another embodiment of the invention is also shown in FIG. 3. The connector 340 may include a plurality of spaced apart optical signal terminations 342 and a plurality of electrical signal terminations 344. As is the case with the various types of conductors described with respect to the medium of some embodiments, the electrical signal terminations 344 may be disposed between selected optical signal terminations 342. For example, the electrical signal termination 346 may be considered to be disposed between the optical signal terminations 347, 348. Alternatively, and simultaneously, the electrical signal termination 346 may also be considered to be disposed between the optical signal terminations 348, 349. The connector 340 may also include an electrically conductive shield termination 352 spaced apart from the plurality of electrical signal terminations 344. Of course, while not explicitly shown in FIG. 3, the connector 340 may also includes several groupings of terminations 342, 344, and multiple shield terminations 352, so as to enable coupling directly to a signaling medium 300, constructed in a fashion which is similar to or identical to the signaling medium 200 shown in FIG. 2.

[0016] A signaling assembly according to yet another embodiment of the invention is also shown in FIG. 3. The signaling assembly 366 may include a connector 340 coupled to a signaling medium 300, such that one or more pluralities of optical signal media 310, along with one or more pluralities of electrical signal conductors 320, terminate in the connector 340. The board connection for electrical conductors may be designed to have a matching termination impedance. One or more electrically conductive shields 326, surrounding one or more corresponding groups of optical signal media and electrical signal conductors 310, 320 may also terminate in the connector 340.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a circuit board according to various embodiments of the invention. The circuit board 470 may include a plurality of spaced apart optical signal terminations 472 and a plurality of electrical signal terminations 474. One or more of the plurality of electrical signal terminations 474 may be disposed between selected ones of the plurality of optical signal terminations 472.

[0018] As a practical matter, during operation of the circuitry 476 attached to the circuit board 470, such as a microprocessor or other integrated circuit 476, electrical signals produced thereby or received thereat may be conducted to and from the terminations 472, 474 using electrical conductors, such as circuit traces 478. The electrical signals may be converted to optical signals, and vice-versa, using one or more optical signal transmitters, receivers, or transceivers 480. For example, the optical signal transceivers 480 may be functionally and/or structurally similar to, or identical to Intel-LightLogic TRN4035 optical transponders, and/or Alvesta 3200 multi-channel transceivers. In this manner selected electrical signals originating at the circuitry 476, or received by the circuitry 476, may be converted to optical signals by the transceivers 480 for communication with off-board circuitry using the optical signal terminations 472. Alternatively, electrical signals may simply be left in their original state for communication with off-board circuitry using the electrical signal terminations 474. The circuit board 470 may also include a connector 440 in optical communication with the plurality of optical signal terminations 472, and in electrical communication with the plurality of electrical signal terminations 474.

[0019] The connector 440 may be similar to or identical to the connector 340 in FIG. 3, and may include an electrically conductive shield termination 484 spaced apart from the plurality of electrical signal terminations 474. In a typical embodiment, the conductive shield may be electrically connected to a ground plane in the circuit board 470, which along with the connector 440, may also include multiple groups of plural optical and electrical signal terminations, along with several electrically conductive shield terminations.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a signal communication system according to various embodiments of the invention. The signal communication system 590 includes at least two circuit boards 570, each of which may include a plurality of spaced apart optical signal terminations 572 and a plurality of electrical signal terminations 574. One or more of the plurality of electrical signal terminations 574 will typically be disposed between selected ones of the plurality of optical signal terminations 572 on each board 570. The system 590 also includes a signaling medium 500 with one or more pluralities of spaced apart optical signal media 510 capable of being in optical communication with optical signal terminations 572, and one or more pluralities of electrical signal conductors 520 capable of being in electrical communication with the electrical signal terminations 574. Generally, at least one of the electrical signal conductors 520 will be disposed between selected ones of the optical signal media 510. The signal communication system 590 may further include an electrically conductive shield 528 surrounding the optical signal media and electrical signal conductors 510, 520. As noted previously, the conductive shield 528 will typically be spaced apart from the electrical signal conductors 520 to prevent shorting. The system 590 may also include multiple groups of plural optical and electrical signal terminations, along with several electrically conductive shield terminations. The medium 500 may be similar to, or identical to the signaling media 100, 200, and 300 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

[0021] One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the media, connectors, connector assemblies, circuit boards, and communications systems of various embodiments can be used in other applications, and thus, the disclosed embodiments are not to be so limited. The illustrations of a medium 100, 200, 300, 500; a connector 340, 440; a connector assembly 366; a circuit board 470, 570; and a signal communications system 590 are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of media, connectors, connector assemblies, circuit boards, and communications systems which might make use of the structures described herein.

[0022] Applications which may include the novel media, connectors, connector assemblies, circuit board and communications systems of the present invention include electronic circuitry used in high-speed computers, communications ports and other equipment, modems, processor modules, embedded processors, and application-specific modules, including multilayer, multi-chip modules. Such media, connectors, connector assemblies, circuit boards, and communications systems may further be included as sub-components within a variety of electronic systems, such as televisions, cellular telephones, personal computers, personal radios, automobiles, aircraft, and others.

[0023] The signaling media, connectors, connector assemblies, circuit boards, and communications systems of the disclosed embodiments can provide design flexibility, offering both electrical and optical signal connection capability. Both high and low bandwidth signals can be accommodated, allowing the designer to trade bandwidth for cost, along with minimizing electromagnetic interference between signals.

[0024] The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, show by way of illustration, and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

[0025] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a first plurality of optical signal terminations; and

a first plurality of electrical signal terminations, wherein at least one of the first plurality of electrical signal terminations is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the first plurality of optical signal terminations.

2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrically conductive shield termination spaced apart from the first plurality of electrical signal terminations.

3. The connector of claim 1, comprising:

a second plurality of optical signal terminations;

a second plurality of electrical signal terminations, wherein at least one of the second plurality of electrical signal terminations is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the second plurality of optical signal terminations.

4. The connector of claim 3, further comprising:

a first electrically conductive shield termination spaced apart from the first plurality of electrical signal terminations; and

a second electrically conductive shield termination spaced apart from the second plurality of electrical signal terminations.

5. A signaling assembly, comprising:

a connector;

a first plurality of optical signal media terminating in the connector; and

a first plurality of electrical signal conductors terminating in the connector, wherein at least one of the first plurality of electrical signal conductors is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the first plurality of optical signal media.

6. The signaling assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

an first electrically conductive shield terminating in the connector and surrounding the first plurality of optical signal media and the first plurality of electrical signal conductors.

7. The signaling assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

an second electrically conductive shield terminating in the connector and coupled to the first electrically conductive shield.

8. The signaling assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

a first electrically conductive shield terminating in the connector and surrounding the first plurality of optical signal media and the first plurality of electrical signal conductors;

a second plurality of optical signal media terminating in the connector;

a second plurality of electrical signal conductors terminating in the connector, wherein at least one of the second plurality of electrical signal conductors is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the second plurality of optical signal media; and

a second electrically conductive shield terminating in the connector and surrounding the second plurality of optical signal media and the second plurality of electrical signal conductors.

9. A circuit board, comprising:

a first plurality of optical signal terminations; and

a first plurality of electrical signal terminations, wherein at least one of the first plurality of electrical signal terminations is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the first plurality of optical signal terminations.

10. The circuit board of claim 9, further comprising:

a connector in optical communication with the first plurality of optical signal terminations and in electrical communication with the first plurality of electrical signal terminations.

11. The circuit board of claim 10, wherein the connector includes a second plurality of optical signal terminations and a second plurality of electrical signal terminations, and wherein at least one of the second plurality of electrical signal terminations is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the second plurality of optical signal terminations.

12. The circuit board of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of optical transceivers capable of optical communication with the first plurality of optical signal terminations.

13. The circuit board of claim 9, further comprising:

an electrically conductive shield termination spaced apart from the first plurality of electrical signal terminations.

14. A signal communication system, comprising:

a first circuit board including a first plurality of optical signal terminations and a first plurality of electrical signal terminations, wherein at least one of the first plurality of electrical signal terminations is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the first plurality of optical signal terminations; and

a second circuit board including a second plurality of optical signal terminations and a second plurality of electrical signal terminations, wherein the first plurality of optical signal terminations is capable of optical communication with the second plurality of optical signal terminations, and wherein the first plurality of electrical signal terminations is capable of electrical communication with the second plurality of electrical signal terminations.

15. The signal communication system of claim 14, further comprising:

a signaling medium including a plurality of optical signal media coupled to the first and the second pluralities of optical signal terminations, and a plurality of electrical signal conductors coupled to the first and the second pluralities of electrical signal terminations.

16. The signal communication system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the plurality of optical signal media.

17. The signal communication system of claim 15, further comprising:

an electrically conductive shield surrounding the plurality of optical signal media and the plurality of electrical signal conductors.

18. The signal communication system of claim 15, wherein each one of the plurality of optical signal media has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area, wherein the longitudinal axis of the at least one of the plurality of optical signal media lies substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of every other one of the plurality of optical signal media, and wherein the cross-sectional area of at least some of the plurality of optical signal media lies within a first substantially circular area.

19. The signal communication system of claim 18, wherein each one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area, wherein the longitudinal axis of at least one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors lies substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of every other one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors, and wherein the cross-sectional area of at least some of the plurality of electrical signal conductors lies within a second substantially circular area.