Active optical cable (AOC) connector having a molded plastic leadframe, an AOC that incorporates the AOC connector, and a method of using an AOC

摘要

An AOC connector is provided that has a molded plastic leadframe that obviates the need to use an optical connector in the AOC and that is capable of operating over a wide temperature range and a large number of temperature cycles. The AOC connector includes a plastic optical port that is adapted to be connected via an optically-transparent adhesive material to an end of an optical fiber cable.

主权项

1. An active optical cable (AOC) connector for use with an AOC, the AOC connector comprising:
a molded plug body having a first molded plug portion and a second molded plug portion that are coupled together, and wherein a cavity exists between adjacent inner surfaces of the first and second molded plug portions when the first and second molded plug portions are coupled together, the molded plug portions comprising a plastic material, the molded plug body having at least one optical port and an optics system integrally formed therein, the optical port configured to receive a non-connectorized end of an optical fiber cable inserted into the optical port; a leadframe coupled to the molded plug body, the leadframe comprising:
a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion that are disposed within the cavity that exists between the first and second molded plug portions,a heat sink portion that begins on a first end thereof at the second mounting portion and extends underneath the second molded plug portion such that a second end of the heat sink portion is in contact with an outer surface of the second molded plug portion,a plurality of leads with distal ends that extend away from the molded plug body, wherein a first end of a first lead of the plurality of leads begins at the first mounting portion and a first end of a second lead of the plurality of leads begins at the second mounting portion; at least one optoelectronic element mounted on the second mounting portion, the optoelectronic element being electrically connected to at least the second lead of said plurality of leads; at least one electrical component mounted on the second mounting portion of the leadframe; and one or more bond wires that extend between the optoelectronic element and the electrical component, and wherein the bond wires are at least partially disposed within the cavity that exists between the first and second molded plug portions.