Optical physical interface module

Abstract

An optical physical interface module is provided which includes a first optical physical interface, a second optical physical interface and one or more optical components. The first optical physical interface is configured to plug into a first connector and communicate optical signals toward the first connector. The second optical physical interface is configured to receive a second connector and communicate optical signals toward the second connector. The one or more optical components are operable to process optical signals between the first and second optical physical interfaces. The optical physical interface module may be provided at the edge of a circuit board so that the circuit board has an optical interface for external communication. The optical physical interface module may be a stand-alone module or integrated into a connector of an optical cable, among other configurations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical interface module, comprising:
 a first optical interface adapted to couple with a first connector for communicating a first optical signal via the first connector;   at least one optical component for optically processing the first optical signal to generate a second optical signal;   a second optical interface adapted to couple with a second connector for communicating the second optical signal via the second connector; and   at least one alignment component adapted to couple with at least one of the first and second connector and to communicate one of a power signal and a control signal via the at least one of the first and second connectors.   
     
     
         2 . The optical interface module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alignment component is in at least one of the first and second optical interfaces and is adapted to respectively couple with the at least one of the first and second connectors. 
     
     
         3 . The optical interface module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical component is for performing a function selected from a group consisting of wavelength conversion, signal amplification, protocol conversion, filtering and any combination of any of these. 
     
     
         4 . The optical interface module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical component is passive. 
     
     
         5 . The optical interface module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alignment component comprises an alignment pin adapted for insertion into a corresponding alignment opening of the associated connector. 
     
     
         6 . The optical interface module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alignment component comprises an alignment opening adapted to have inserted therein a corresponding alignment pin of the associated connector. 
     
     
         7 . The optical interface module of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connectors each comprises a plurality of arrayed connectors, each arrayed connector including an alignment opening, and wherein the at least one alignment component comprises at least one alignment pin adapted for insertion into a corresponding alignment opening of a corresponding one of the plurality of arrayed connectors. 
     
     
         8 . The optical interface module of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second connectors are array connectors. 
     
     
         9 . The optical interface module of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connectors each comprises a plurality of arrayed connectors, each arrayed connector including an alignment pin, and wherein the at least one alignment component comprises at least one alignment opening adapted to have inserted therein a corresponding alignment pin of a respective one of the plurality of arrayed connectors. 
     
     
         10 . The optical interface module of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second connectors are array connectors. 
     
     
         11 . An optical cable, comprising:
 at least one optical waveguide,   an optical interface module coupled to the at least one optical waveguide and comprising:
 a first optical interface adapted to couple with an external connector for communicating a first optical signal via the external connector; 
 at least one optical component for optically processing the first optical signal to generate a second optical signal; 
 a second optical interface adapted to couple with the at least one optical waveguide for communicating the second optical signal via the at least one optical waveguide; and 
 at least one alignment component adapted to couple with the connector and to communicate one of a power signal and a control signal via the external connector. 
   
     
     
         12 . The optical cable of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one optical component is for performing a function selected from a group consisting of wavelength conversion, signal amplification, protocol conversion, filtering and any combination of any of these. 
     
     
         13 . The optical cable of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one alignment component comprises an alignment pin adapted for insertion into a corresponding alignment opening of the external connector. 
     
     
         14 . The optical interface module of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one alignment component comprises an alignment opening adapted to have inserted therein a corresponding alignment pin of the external connector. 
     
     
         15 . The optical cable of  claim 11  further comprising a first cable connector at a first end of the at least one optical waveguide and a second cable connector at a second, opposite end of the at least one optical waveguide, wherein the first cable connector comprises the optical interface module. 
     
     
         16 . The optical cable of  claim 15  wherein the second cable connector comprises another optical interface module adapted to couple with another external connector. 
     
     
         17 . The optical cable of  claim 16  wherein the other optical interface module comprises:
 a third optical interface adapted to couple with the at least one optical waveguide for communicating a third optical signal via the at least one optical waveguide; 
 at least one other optical component for optically processing the third optical signal to generate a fourth optical signal; 
 a fourth optical interface adapted to couple with the other external connector for communicating the fourth optical signal via the other external connector; 
 at least one alignment component adapted to couple with the other external connector and to communicate one of a power signal and a control signal via the other external connector. 
 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising:
 an integrated circuit;   an optical engine coupled to the integrated circuit for converting an electrical signal received from the integrated circuit into a first optical signal;   an optical interface module comprising:
 a first optical interface adapted to couple with the optical engine for communicating the first optical signal; 
 at least one optical component for optically processing the first optical signal to generate a second optical signal; 
 a second optical interface adapted to couple with an external connector for communicating the second optical signal via the external connector; and 
 at least one alignment component adapted to couple with the external connector and to communicate one of a power signal and a control signal via the external connector. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising at least one waveguide coupling the optical engine to the first optical interface of the optical interface module for communicating the first optical signal. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the integrated circuit and the optical engine are integrated in a common die.