OPTOELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MODULE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an optoelectrical connector module comprising a flexible circuit board (10) having a first region and a second region and a printed circuit board (PCB) (20) that is attached to the first region of the flexible circuit board, and an optical module (30) that is attached to the second region of the flexible circuit board. The optical module is configured to transmit and/or receive light signals. The optoelectrical connector module comprises further a rigid support structure (40) having a first and a second surface that enclose a defined angle. The first surface of the rigid support structure is thereby arranged in parallel to the PCB and the second surface of the rigid support structure is connected to the flexible circuit board opposite the second region.

Claims

1. An optoelectrical connector module, comprising: a flexible circuit board (10) having a first region (11) and a second region (12), a printed circuit board (PCB) (20) that is attached to the first region of the flexible circuit board, and an optical module (30, 30) that is attached to the second region of the flexible circuit board, characterized in that the optoelectrical connector module further comprises: a rigid support structure (40) having a first (41) and a second (42) surface, wherein the first surface (41) is arranged parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board (PCB) (20) and the second surface (42) is connected to the flexible circuit board opposite the second region (12) of the flexible circuit board, and the first and second surfaces of the rigid support structure enclose an angle () that is different from 0 and 90.

2. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the first (41) and second (42) surfaces of the support structure (40) enclose an angle () that is preferably between 5 and 85, more preferably between 5 and 70, still more preferably between 8 and 60 and even most preferably between 10 and 40.

3. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the optical module (30, 30) receives and/or transmits light (33) in a direction perpendicular or parallel to the second surface (42) of the support structure (40) and the first (41) and second (42) surfaces of the support structure (40) enclose an angle (a) such that the direction of light transmitted and/or received by the optical module relative to the plane of the PCB is between 5 and 85, more preferably between 5 and 70, still more preferably between 8 and 60 and even most preferably between 10 and 40.

4. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the optical module (30, 30) comprises: at least an optical transmitting and/or receiving part (31), wherein each of the transmitting and/or receiving part contains electrical and/or optical parts, and an optical port (32), wherein the optical port comprises optical lenses.

5. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the support structure (40) is a metallic heat sink, providing a thermal coupling to the optical module.

6. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the optoelectrical connector module further comprises a housing (50) and wherein the support structure (40) is thermally coupled to the housing (50).

7. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the PCB (20) comprises further electrical contacts (21) that are capable of connecting the PCB (20) to an external environment.

8. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the PCB (20) further comprises at least one micro controller (22) or at least one sensor (23).

9. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the optoelectrical connector module is adapted to receive an optical counter connector (60), in particular a mechanical transfer ferrule (MT-ferrule) connector.

10. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the optoelectrical connector module further comprises an additional heat sink (70) besides the rigid support structure (40).

11. The optoelectrical connector module according to claim 10, wherein the optoelectrical connector module further comprises a housing (50) and the additional heat sink (70) has cooling fins (71) and is attached to the housing (50) of the optoelectrical connector module or is integrally formed with at least one part of the housing (50) of the optoelectrical connector module.

12. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the support structure (40) has cooling fins (45) on at least one surface thereof that is not connected to the flexible circuit board (10).

13. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the optoelectrical connector module further comprises a housing (50), which housing completely covers the flexible circuit board (10) and the rigid support structure (40) and comprises an orifice (51) for receiving a corresponding counter connector (60), and wherein the PCB (20) forms a wall (52) of the housing (50).

14. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit board (10) has at least a third region (13), and the rigid support structure (40) has at least a third surface (43), and wherein the third surface (43) is connected to the flexible circuit board (10) opposite to the third region (13) of the flexible circuit board.

15. The optoelectrical connector module of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit board (10) has thickness less than 1 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm and more preferably less than 0.2 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following, reference is made to the following figures, in which

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an optoelectrical connector module in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an optoelectrical connector module in accordance with a second embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an optoelectrical connector module in accordance with a third embodiment;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an optoelectrical connector module in accordance with a fourth embodiment; and

[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an optoelectrical connector module in accordance with a fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an optoelectrical connector module, comprising a flexible circuit board 10, a PCB 20, an optical module 30 and a rigid support structure 40, The PCB 20 is attached to a first region 11 of the flexible circuit board 10 and the optical module 30 is attached to a second region 12 of the flexible circuit board 10.

[0029] The first surface 41 of the rigid support structure 40 is parallel to the plane of the PCB 20. The second surface 42 of the rigid support structure 40 is connected to the flexible circuit board opposite the second region 12 of the flexible circuit board 10. As one can see, the first and second surfaces of the rigid support structure 40 enclose an angle that is different from 0 and 90, namely approximately 50. Generally preferred, the angle a is between 5 and 85, more preferably between 5 and 70, still more preferably between 8 and 60 and even most preferably between 10 and 40. As the skilled person will understand, the choice of this angle depends on the orientation of the optical module (this will be explained in more detail below under reference to FIG. 4), The aim is that the direction of light received or transmitted by the optical module relative to the plane of the PCB is at an angle of between 5 and 85, more preferably between 5 and 70, still more preferably between 8 and 60 and even most preferably between 10 and 40. Such a configuration allows a very compact design with a low height.

[0030] The optical module 30 can comprise a transmitting and/or receiving part 31 that transforms electrical signals, received from the flexible circuit board 10 to light signals 33 and vice versa. The light signals 33 are then guided by an optical port 32 and a connector 60 to the optical wave guide 61. The optical port 32 may comprise lenses for light guiding or other suitable light guide, but does preferably not bend the light beam.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, the PCB 20 has electrical contacts 21 that are capable of connecting the PCB 20 to an external environment. The external environment can be a further PCB, a plug in board or a control cabinet or any other electrical circuit. Via the electrical contacts 21, the PCB 20 can be electrically connected by plugging, soldering, bonding and/or conductive gluing or any other suitable technique. The electrical contacts 21 can be either orientated parallel to the plane of the PCB, or perpendicular thereto (cf. e.g. FIG. 3).

[0032] In a further embodiment, the PCB 20 can be equipped with additional electrical components such at least one microcontroller 22 and/or at least one sensor 23. Further, it is also possible to provide the flexible circuit board 10 with electrical components such at least microcontrollers and/or sensors (not shown). The sensor 23 can be a temperature sensor (e.g. NTC) or the like.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the support structure 40 is a metallic heat sink. The heat sink may be provided with cooling fins 45 to optimize the cooling performance. Heat is generated in the optical module 30 and therefore, the heat sink 40 is thermally coupled to the optical module 30. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible circuit board provides orifices in the area of the second region 12 to enable a direct contact of the heat sink 40 and the optical module 30.

[0034] In another embodiment, the thermal coupling is achieved through the flexible circuit board 10. Thermal coupling can be improved by the use of heat transfer paste, thermal conducting glue or the like.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the optoelectrical connector module comprises a corresponding counter connector 60 that comprises at least one optical wave guide 61. The counter connector 60 is preferably a mechanical transfer ferrule (MT ferrule).

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of an optoelectrical connector module, comprising also a flexible circuit board 10, a PCB 20, an optical module 30 and a rigid support structure 40. The embodiment of FIG. 2 (and FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) employs essentially the same parts with a different geometric configuration, so that in the following the same reference numbers are used to denote similar or essentially identical elements.

[0037] The PCB 20 of FIG. 2 is attached to the first region 11 of the flexible circuit board 10 and the optical module 30 is attached to the second region 12 of the flexible circuit board 10. The first surface 41 of the rigid support structure 40 is attached directly to the PCB 20 and is parallel to the plane of the PCB. The second surface 42 of the rigid support structure 40 is connected to the flexible circuit board opposite the second region 12 of the flexible circuit board 10 and is arranged at an angle of approximately 60 to the first surface 41 (and thus also to the plane of the PCB 20). In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the flexible circuit board has a third region 13 that is attached to a third surface 43 of the rigid support structure 40, allowing an improved thermal coupling. Further, the mechanical strength can be increased by attaching the flexible circuit board to more than one surface of the rigid support structure. To further improve the mechanical strength of the attachment of the flexible circuit board 10 to the PCB 20, the flexible circuit board 10 can be additionally attached at a region different from the first region to the PCB 20.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of an optoelectrical connector module, comprising a flexible circuit hoard 10, a PCB 20, an optical module 30 and a rigid support structure 40. To improve the heat transfer capabilities of the rigid support structure 40, the rigid support structure 40 can he thermally coupled to a housing 50 of the optoelectrical connector module. A thermal coupling is achieved by mechanically attaching the rigid support structure 40 to the housing 50 by gluing, soldering, screwing, snap joints or any other suitable technique. Thermal coupling can be improved by the use of heat transfer paste, thermal conducting glue or the like.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment an optoelectrical connector module, comprising, a flexible circuit board 10, a PCB 20, an optical module 30 and a rigid support structure 40. The difference between the module 30 and the modules 30 is in particular the orientation in which the counter connector 60 is coupled to the module and thus the direction of light emitted or received by the module relative to the plane of the PCB. The construction of FIG. 4 has a relatively small angle a of approximately 25 and the angle of the direction of light relative to the plane of the PCB is identical. Generally preferred, irrespective whether the optical module receives and/or transmits light in a direction perpendicular (like in FIG. 1) or parallel to (like in FIG. 4) the second surface of the support structure, the first and second surfaces of the support structure should enclose an angle a such that the direction of light transmitted and/or received by the optical module relative to the plane of the PCB is between 5 and 85, more preferably between 5 and 70, still more preferably between 8 and 60 and even most preferably between 10 and 40. To improve the heat transfer capabilities of the rigid support structure 40, the rigid support structure 40 is part of the housing 50. Therefore, the heat conducted in the rigid support structure can be directly dissipated to the environment.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment an optoelectrical connector module, comprising, a flexible circuit board 10, a PCB 20, an optical module 30 and a rigid support structure 40. The flexible circuit board 10 and the rigid support structure 40 are covered entirely by a housing 50. The housing further has an orifice 51 that enables the light signals from/to the optical module 30 to exit/enter the optoelectrical connector module. The orifice 51 receives the connector 60 of the connector system at least partly. The PCB 20 is at least partly covered by the housing. In the shown embodiment, a lower wall of the housing is formed by the PCB 20.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the optoelectrical connector module further comprises an additional heat sink 70. The heat sink 70 can have surface structures, such as cooling fins 71 to improve the cooling performance. The heat sink 70 is attached to an outer surface of the housing 50 by glue, solder, screw, snap joints or any other suitable attachment mechanism. Thermal coupling can be improved by the use of heat transfer paste, thermal conducting glue or the like.

[0042] In a still further embodiment, the heat sink 70 can be integrally formed with the housing 50 or be at least one part of the housing 50.

[0043] The embodiments described herein have been presented by way of illustration, and the present invention is therefore not intended to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, the structure and features of each the embodiments described above can be applied to the other embodiments described herein, unless otherwise indicated. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will realize that the invention is intended to encompass all modifications and alternative arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention, for instance as set forth by the appended claims.