US Patent 7905664 Input/output connector having an active electrical/optical communication component

An I/O connector that includes an optical communication component, for example an optical transceiver, mounted to a ferrule body of the I/O connector. The connector can be installed on a circuit card assembly and is configured to allow blind-mate connectivity. Mounting the optical communication component to the ferrule body of the connector frees up the surface of the circuit card that could be eliminated or used for mounting other components, facilitates installation of and access to the optical communication component for repair and maintenance thereof, and eliminates the need for a fiber optic pigtail extending from the connector to the circuit card.