Interconnection system for optical circuit boards

This invention relates to system for interconnecting optical circuit boards with optical connectors, which are arrayed (row or column) on a mounting panel. An interconnection system is shown that enables an optical circuit board , having a number of optical devices , to be easily connected to and disconnected from a backplane . The optical devices are positioned along a side edge of a printed wiring board and are adapted to interconnect with a like number of optical connectors that are arrayed on the backplane in a row or column. Each optical plug is held in a holder , which is retained in backplane by a clip . Each of the optical connectors is a plug that includes a ferrule , which encloses an optical fiber and projects from one end of the plug. Each of the edge-mounted optical devices includes a jack receptacle at its front end and has a cavity that is shaped to receive the optical plug. All of the jack receptacles are similarly shaped. Each cavity further includes a boss for receiving the ferrule. The plugs and jack receptacles are arranged to engage, but not interlock with, each other. The optical devices include two or more downward-extending pins that are received in corresponding holes in the printed wiring board for accurate positioning. Illustratively, optical device includes a jack receptacle in its front-end portion and its back-end portion ; whereas optical device includes a jack receptacle in its front-end portion and one or more transducers , for converting between electrical and optical signals, in its back-end portion