JP2000252145A - Electromagnetic induction type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electromagnetic induction type connector, which can perform two-way optical communication between a primary side and a secondary side and can be made smaller. SOLUTION: Both connectors 23, 24 of this electromagnetic induction type connector are provided with element storage chambers 23A, 24A for housing optical communication elements. There is also provided one two-way optical path 40 for allowing two-way optical signals to pass by communicating the element storage chambers 23A, 24A of both the connectors 23, 24, a state in which the connectors are connected. Thus, since one two-way optical path 40 is used for two-way optical signals in the electromagnetic induction type connector 22, the connectors can be made smaller than the one provided separately with optical paths for the two-way optical signals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electromagnetic induction type connector capable of optical communication by providing an optical communication element in one connector and the other connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of this type of electromagnetic induction type connector, a connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-284135 is known. As shown in FIG. 4, this connector has a joint surface 2 of a primary connector 2 having a primary coil 1.
A, the light receiving element 3 is arranged and provided, and the secondary coil 4
The light emitting element 6 is arranged and provided on the joint surface 5A of the secondary connector 5 having When the two connectors 2 and 5 are joined, the light emitting and light receiving elements 3 and 6 face each other (see FIG. 4B), so that an optical signal can be transmitted from the secondary side to the primary side. It has become.

[0003]

By the way, both light emitting and light receiving optical communication elements are provided on both the primary side and the secondary side to enable optical communication in both directions between the primary side and the secondary side. In the case of the configuration, in the above-described conventional electromagnetic induction type connector, the joining surfaces 2A, 2A, of both the primary and secondary connectors 2, 5 are used.
Since it is necessary to secure a space for arranging two optical communication elements in 5A and two optical paths, both connectors 2 and 5 become large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic induction type connector capable of optical communication in both directions of a primary side and a secondary side and capable of being downsized.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, electric power is transferred between the two connectors by electromagnetic induction between both coils provided in the one and the other connectors. In addition, in an electromagnetic induction type connector in which optical signals are transmitted and received between the two connectors by both optical communication elements provided in both connectors, both optical communication elements for light emission and light reception are provided on both one and the other, respectively. The two connectors are configured to be capable of optical communication in both directions, and both connectors are provided with an element accommodating chamber for accommodating the optical communication element.
The present invention is characterized in that a single bidirectional optical path is provided in which the element accommodating chambers of both connectors are communicated with each other in a state where the connectors are connected and both bidirectional optical signals are passed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electromagnetic induction type connector according to the first aspect, the two connectors are configured to be rotatable relative to each other in a state where the two connectors are connected to each other, and both connectors of the two-way optical path are connected. It is characterized in that the portion crossing the joint surface is arranged on the rotation axis of the connector.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electromagnetic induction type connector according to the first or second aspect, both the light emitting and receiving optical communication elements are connected to the open ends of the bidirectional optical path in the element accommodating chamber. It is arranged opposite to both sides sandwiched, and at the position facing the open end, there is provided a reflection member that reflects light signals for light emission and light reception and directs both optical axes to a bidirectional optical path. Have.

[0008]

<Operation and effect of the present invention><Invention of claim 1> When the two connectors are connected, the two element accommodation chambers provided therein are communicated by a single bidirectional optical path, and the bidirectional optical path includes a bidirectional optical path. Optical signal is passed. As described above, in the present invention, since the optical path of the bidirectional optical signal is shared by one bidirectional optical path, the connector can be made smaller as compared with the case where the optical paths of the bidirectional optical signal are separately provided. .

<Invention of claim 2> Since the portion of the bidirectional optical path that crosses the joint surface of both connectors is arranged on the rotation axis of the connector, the optical path does not shift even when the connectors are rotated in the coupled state. .

<Invention of Claim 3> Both optical communication elements are oriented sideways with respect to the bidirectional optical path, so that the entire optical communication element can be made more compact than an optical communication element arranged on the extension of the bidirectional optical path. .

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a rear end portion of a so-called one-box type automobile. The present invention is used to connect a power line between a pivotable vehicle door 10 provided at the rear end portion and a vehicle body 11. Is used.

On the left side of the rear end face of the vehicle body 11, a pair of rotating shafts 13, 13 project upward and downward to approach each other. The vehicle door 10 is rotatably connected to the vehicle body 11 by being engaged with the upper and lower ends.

The vehicle door 10 is provided with a rectangular glass window 15 on the upper side, and a pair of blinkers 36, 36 on the left and right on the lower side (see FIGS. 1 and 3; Is shown only). The glass window 15 is provided with a wiper 16 having a rotating shaft disposed below the glass window 15. The wiper 16 receives power from a motor 17 built in the vehicle door 10 and swings right and left. Further, the vehicle door 10 is provided with a drive circuit unit 18 (see FIG. 3) in which a drive circuit of the motor 17 and a drive circuit of the blinker 36 are integrated.

The electromagnetic induction type connector 22 is disposed at an intermediate portion of the vehicle door 10 on the rotating shaft side as shown in FIG. 1, and is fixed to the vehicle body 11 as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. It comprises a primary connector 23 and a secondary connector 24 fixed to the vehicle door 10.

The secondary connector 24 is buried in an upper part of a recess 20 formed at an intermediate portion of the edge of the vehicle door 10 on the rotating shaft side, and a joint surface with the primary connector 23 faces downward. Have been. The secondary core 25 provided in the secondary connector 24 is formed, for example, by sintering ferrite powder, has a flat cylindrical shape as a whole, and the axis of the cylinder coincides with the center of rotation of the vehicle door 10. The arrangement is as follows. On the lower surface of the secondary core 25, an annular groove 25A concentric with the flat cylinder is formed, and the secondary coil 26 is accommodated therein. The electric wire constituting the secondary coil 26 is drawn into the vehicle door 10 and connected to a power line extending from the drive circuit unit 18 (see FIG. 3).

On the other hand, the primary connector 23 is connected to the vehicle body 1.
1, a projection 21 protruding from the rear end toward the recess 20.
, And the joint surface with the secondary connector 24 faces upward. The primary-side connector 23 has a primary coil 29 housed in a primary core 28 having the same structure as the secondary core 25, and the cores of the core 28 and the coil 29 also coincide with the rotation axis of the vehicle door 10. is there. The electric wire forming the primary coil 29 is connected to an inverter 35 (see FIG. 3) provided in the vehicle body 11.
Then, the vehicle door 10 is assembled to the vehicle body 11, and the cores 25 and 28 are joined as shown in FIG.

The primary connector 23 is provided with a light emitting element 32A and a light receiving element 32B, while the secondary connector 24 is provided with a light emitting element 30A and a light receiving element 30B. , 24 can be optically communicated in both directions. More specifically, element housing chambers 23A and 24A for housing both optical communication elements are provided on the back side of the core of both connectors 23 and 24, and the center axes of both cores (that is, vehicle door 10) are provided. Axis of rotation)
In a state where the connector is connected, both the element housing chambers 23A, 24A
A single bidirectional optical path 40 is provided to communicate with each other.

The two optical communication elements 32A, 32B (or 30A, 30B) of the connectors 23, 24 are on both sides of the element accommodating chamber 23A (or 24A) across the open end 41 of the bidirectional optical path 40. And are arranged facing
At a position facing the open end 41, a mirror body 42 (corresponding to a reflecting member according to the present invention) having an isosceles triangular cross section is provided.
The apex is arranged so as to face the open end 41, whereby both the light emitting and receiving optical axes are refracted at right angles and directed to the bidirectional optical path 40.

FIG. 3 shows an electric configuration of the vehicle according to the present embodiment. A control circuit 33 provided in the vehicle body 11 has a command to start the wiper 16 and a command to turn on the left and right blinkers 36. In response, the inverter 35 connected to the battery 34 is activated to excite the primary coil 29. The signal lines between the vehicle body 11 and the vehicle door 10 are connected to the optical communication elements 30A, 30A.
B, 32A, and 32B are used for optical communication.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. When the vehicle door 10 is assembled to the vehicle main body 11, as shown in FIG.
5 are magnetically coupled facing each other in the proximity state, and a closed magnetic circuit penetrating both coils 26 and 29 is formed by the two cores 25 and 28, and the power line between the vehicle body 11 and the vehicle door 10 is formed. These are connected via the electromagnetic induction type connector 22. Here, the electromagnetic induction type connector 22
Since the bidirectional optical path 40 is arranged on the rotation axis of the vehicle door, the optical path does not shift even if the vehicle door is rotated and the connectors are rotated in a coupled state.

For example, when the driver operates a switch lever (not shown) of the blinker 36, the following operation is performed. That is, the command is given to a control circuit 33 provided in the vehicle main body 11, and the control circuit 33 activates the inverter 35 connected to the battery 34 to excite the primary coil 29, and the optical signal from the light emitting element 32A on the primary side. Send Then, the magnetic flux penetrates the secondary coil 26 through the magnetic circuit formed by the cores 25 and 28, and the secondary coil 26
Induced electromotive force is generated. This is converted into a direct current by a rectifier circuit (not shown) provided in the drive circuit unit 18. On the other hand, the optical signal emitted from the light emitting element 32A is
The light is received by the light receiving element 30 </ b> B of the vehicle door 10, and the received signal is taken into the drive circuit unit 18. And
Based on the received signal, the lamp of the blinker 36 blinks. Here, the electromagnetic induction type connector 2 of the present embodiment
2 has its axis aligned with the center of rotation of the vehicle door 10, so that it can be rotated with the connector coupled. Therefore, for example, both the blinkers 36 and 36 can be turned on and off in order to call attention while the vehicle door 10 is opened. When the lamp of the blinker 36 is off, an optical signal notifying the fact is emitted from the light emitting element 30A on the vehicle door 10 side. Then, this is received by the light receiving element 32B of the vehicle body 11, and the received signal is taken into the control circuit 33 to turn on a warning lamp (not shown) provided on the operation panel of the driver's seat. When the driver turns on the switch of the wiper 16, the same operation as in the case of the above-mentioned blinker 36 is performed.

As described above, according to the electromagnetic induction type connector 22 of the present embodiment, since the optical path of the bidirectional optical signal is shared by the single bidirectional optical path 40, the optical paths of the bidirectional optical signal are separated. The connector can be reduced in size as compared with the connector provided in the above. In addition, since the two optical communication elements are oriented sideways with respect to the bidirectional optical path 40, the entire optical communication element can be made more compact than an optical communication element arranged on the extension of the bidirectional optical path 40. Further, since the two-way optical path 40 is disposed on the rotation axis of the vehicle door 10, the connectors 23, 2
The optical path does not deviate even when the members 4 are rotated in a coupled state.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
In addition to the following, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) The electromagnetic induction type connector of the present invention may be used for line connection between parts fixed to each other. Even in such a case, the bidirectional optical path 4
If 0 is arranged on the center axis of the connector, there is no need to worry about the rotational phase when connecting both connectors, and the operation of connecting the connectors becomes easy.

(2) In the above embodiment, the connector 23,
The present invention may be applied to an electromagnetic induction type connector in which the two connectors 24 are rotatable in the coupled state but the two connectors are not rotated in the coupled state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a rear end of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the coupled state of the electromagnetic induction type connector.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the automobile.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a conventional electromagnetic induction type connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 22 ... electromagnetic induction type connector 23 ... primary side connector 23A, 24A ... element accommodation room 24 ... secondary side connector 26 ... secondary coil 29 ... primary coil 30A, 32A ... light emitting element 30B, 32B ... light receiving element 34 ... battery (power supply) 35) Inverter 40 ... Bidirectional optical path 41 ... Open end 42 ... Mirror (reflective member)

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court II (Reference) // B60R 16/02 621 (72) Inventor Kuki Heiji 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Harness Co., Ltd. F-term (Reference) in the General Research Laboratory 5F089 AA01 AA05 AC25 CA20 5K002 AA05 AA07 BA21 BA32 DA04 FA03 GA04 GA07

Claims (3)

[Claims] An electric power is transmitted and received between both connectors by electromagnetic induction between both coils provided in one connector and the other connector, and both optical communication elements provided in both connectors are used to transmit power between the two connectors. In the electromagnetic induction type connector in which optical signals are transmitted and received, both the one and the other are provided with both optical communication elements for light emission and light reception, respectively, so that the two connectors can be optically communicated in both directions, In both connectors, an element accommodating chamber for accommodating the optical communication element is provided, and in a state where the connectors are coupled, one element bidirectional communication between the element accommodating chambers of the two connectors and passing the bidirectional optical signal together are provided. An electromagnetic induction type connector having an optical path. 2. The two connectors are configured to be rotatable with each other in a state where the two connectors are coupled to each other. A portion of the bidirectional optical path crossing a joint surface of the two connectors is provided on a rotation axis of the connector. The electromagnetic induction type connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is arranged. 3. The light-emitting and light-receiving optical communication elements,
In the element accommodating chamber, the optical signal for light emission and the light for light reception are reflected at opposite positions on both sides of the open end of the bidirectional optical path and opposed to the open end. The electromagnetic induction type connector according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a reflecting member for directing an axis to the bidirectional optical path.