100G Plug-in Module Connector Eliminates Fiber Handling and Frees up Space on the Host Board

LightCONEX28 LC 100G (full-duplex) active blind mate optical interconnect is a revolutionary solution for VPX systems that includes a fixed plug-in module connector and a floating backplane connector compatible with the proposed VITA 66.5 standard. The low-profile plug-in module connector is screwed on the board edge through an interposer, saving board space and eliminating fiber cable handling. 

Specifications and features:

●Optical interconnects: Mechanical Transfer (MT) ferrule with a linear array of 12 parallel multimode fibers

●Secure connection: Spring within the backplane optical cable provides the mating force between the plug-in module and backplane MTs.

●Standards: Designed following VITA 66.5 standard (forthcoming).

●Maintenance: Supports two-level maintenance.

●Blind mate: Eliminates fiber handling and frees up space on the host board.

●Robustness: Tested for vibration and shock over the industrial temperature range, exposure to humidity, salt fog, sand and dust, mate/un-mate cycles, following military specs.

Module connector features:

●Rugged: MIL-STD 883 compliant

●Moisture resistant: sealed

●Compact transceiver (L×W×H):27 mm ×14 mm ×3.5 mm

●Performance: 28 Gbps/lane from –40 ºC to 85 ºC

●Reach: up to 100 m, OM3 fiber

●BER: up to 10–9 with −9 dBm sensitivity

●Low power consumption: 1.4 W per module (4+4)-lane 28G

●Data interface: CML

●Board mount: LGA connector

Applications:

●VPX single board computing

●C4ISR embedded systems

●AESA radars

●Ethernet switches, high BW communication links

Fig.1 LightCONEX LC with 12-lane active module on a 3U VPX board (Style A with front mating plate removed).

Fig.2 (a).VPX board with VITA 46 and LightCONEX LC plug-in connectors (Style A)

(b).ELMA 3U VPX backplane with LightCONEX LC backplane connector (Style A)

(c).Close-up of the LightCONEX LC 12-lane plug-in module connector (Style A)

(d).Close-up of the LightCONEX LC 12-lane backplane connector (Style A)

Plug-in module connector features

The LightCONEX plug-in module connector contains the optical transceiver with its MT ferrule, an LGA interposer, and a front mating plate. The front mating plate has the primary alignment feature socket and a hole to accommodate the MT from the transceiver. 

Fig.3 LightCONEX plug-in module connector Style B shown here.

The main components of the plug-in module connector are:

1.Front mating plate, with:

2.Hole to accommodate MT from the transceiver

3.Primary alignment feature socket

4.Optical transceiver

5.Interposer

Style B and C

The LightCONEX plug-in module connectors Style B and C have front mating plates for each respective style. The primary alignment feature is located below the optical transceiver. These connectors require interposers ITP3, ITP4, or IPT5.

Style B has one optical transceiver and one cabled MT.

Style C has one optical transceiver.

Fig.4 Plug-in module connector styles all shown with 4TRX transceiver.

Optical transceiver with front mating plate

The plug-in module connectors are equipped with optical transceivers offering multiple transmit and receive and bandwidth configurations and with required interposers:

LightCONEX28  4TRX module: for Styles B and C

Interposer

2 mm, 96 positions. Styles B and C (ITP5)

Fig.5 ITP5 interposer