JPH06265757A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a connector capable of easily and accurately performing mutual connection between the connector half parts of the respective types without the need of an adapter for the individual mutual connection. CONSTITUTION: This connector is constituted of a plug 8 provided with a hole extended in an axial direction for receiving a cable 9, a transmitter adapter 10 extended in the axial direction and provided with a front fitting surface for receiving the plug in the axial direction and positioning the plug to a transmitter/receiver device 3, a plug connector half part 6 provided with an angle beam part 20 on an end part and a pin 13 fixed to the front fitting surface of the transmitter adapter 10 and extended forwards and a yoke halt part connector 5 integrated and attached to the transmitter/receiver device 3 and provided with an opening provided with the angle beam part for receiving the pin 13 for guiding and receiving the pin inside the opening by the angle beam part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector having an alignment assembly for positioning, aligning and guiding mating electrical or optical connector halves together and to an improved connector for the clip connector half of the connector.

[0002]

[Prior Art] US Patent Application (US Serial NO.07 / 549,78
As mentioned in 9), it is a standard practice for mating connectors to provide a means of arranging the connector halves so that the internal terminals fit properly. Generally, there are pins, posts and protrusions that are integrally molded or added as hardware to the housing of the other connector half that fits within the complementary opening in one half.

[0003]

In the prior art connectors described above, one problem associated with the interconnection of connector halves occurs when the halves are from different manufacturers and are not complementary. In this case, an adapter is required to change one or both connector halves to allow interconnection. An example of such a problem occurs when a transmitter mounted on a circuit board of a certain manufacturer is replaced with a transmitter mounted on a circuit board of another manufacturer in a computer device. Such a replacement problem occurs when using a transceiver port with a different alignment than the alignment of the port on the transmitter board being replaced. The connection between the transmitter ports via the connector through the back of the computer device is not possible, even if the connection is actually made.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an alignment assembly that allows interconnection between various types of connector halves without the need for each interconnection adapter. Another object of the invention is in a simple and novel way,
The object is to mount the connector halves on a mounting structure such as a printed circuit board and to provide a guide means for interfitting the electro-optic connectors to join the cable to the circuit board. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved between a board mounted transmitter or receiver and a shroud plug connector, such as a connection between a Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) and a fixed shroud duplex (FSD) type connector. Is to provide connectivity.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, a connector according to the present invention is a connector for connecting a cable to a transmitter / receiver device, the hole receiving the cable and extending in the axial direction. And a transmitter adapter axially receiving the plug, extending axially, aligning the plug with respect to the transmitter / receiver device and having a forward mating surface, and an end. Has a beveled portion,
A plug half connector fixed to the front mating surface of the transmitter adapter and having a forwardly extending pin, and a beveled portion integrally attached to the transmitter / receiver device for receiving the pin. And a yoke half connector adapted to guide and receive the pin in the opening by the beveled portion.
A connector according to another aspect of the present invention is a connector for connecting a cable to a transmitter / receiver device through a cover, the plug extending axially and having a hole for receiving the cable, and the cover. A transmitter shroud for axially receiving the plug via the and extending axially forward for alignment of the plug with respect to the transmitter / receiver arrangement, and a front end side of each of which is integral with the transmitter shroud. A plug connector half having a latch beam mechanism having a latch beam with a port formed therein, and a plug connector half mounted integrally with the transmitter / receiver device to receive the respective latch beam. Clip connector having an opening having a beveled portion, a clip having dimples, and a clip holding slot for holding the clip A half of the plug connector half, the dimple being biased through a notch in the slot, the clip being slid in each of the clip retaining slots, and the plug connector half being fitted to the clip connector half. Upon coincidence, it is configured to engage the latch beam through the port of the latch beam.

[0006]

The present invention relates to a connector for connecting an optical transmission fiber cable to a transmitter / receiver device. The connector includes a plug having an axial hole for receiving an optical fiber,
And a transmitter adapter for axially receiving the plug. The transmitter adapter extends axially to align the plug with the transmitter / receiver device. The transmitter adapter also has a front mating surface and a pin that is fixed at an angle to the front mating surface of the adapter and extends forward of the plug half connector. In addition, it has a yoke half attached to and integral with the transmitter / receiver device and having an opening beveled to receive a pin.

The connector transmitter adapter is an integral two-part construction having a transmitter shroud and an alignment adapter. That is, the transmitter adapter is a unitary, one-piece construction featuring the transmitter shroud and alignment pin adapter sections. If the transmitter adapter has a two-part structure,
The transmitter shroud and alignment pin adapter are secured to each other by interengaging means such as bolts. In either case, the transmitter shroud is configured to receive the plug axially. The transmitter shroud extends axially to align the plug with the transmitter shroud. The alignment adapter has pins extending therefrom and is flush with the mating surface of the transmitter shroud.

[0008] A connector typically has two pins, each of which is beveled at its end and is secured to the front mating surface of the transmitter adapter. The pin extends forward of the plug half connector. Each pin has an annular groove and the yoke half is
It has a spring biased plunger in its opening. The pin is pressed into the groove, providing a latch for the pin, which is characterized by a positive retention force. Usually, the yoke half connector also has a structure in which each of the openings is intersected by a hole. Each spring biased plunger is in its respective intersecting hole and each plunger end is pressed from the hole into the opening and into the groove of the pin.

The transmitter / receiver device has a protruding mount for connecting each transmitter / receiver to a respective optical fiber cable extending forward in the axial bore of the plug.
The plug has an opening in its axial hole for receiving the respective mount to allow connection with a respective fiber optic cable. The openings do not interfere with the connections along the axial straight line of the mounts within the plug.

In addition, the connector has means for securing the plug within the transmitter adapter. This means is at least one deflectable latch which cooperates with respective parts of the transmitter adapter. It also has a strain relief of a tubular member with an integral means for distributing the bending along its length. Means for holding the strain relief means and the plug in the assembled state are provided on the plug and the strain relief means. The plug is provided with a threaded end, and a cap having a threaded hole complementary to the threaded end and having a reduced diameter opening hole for catching the strain relief.

The present invention also relates to a connector for connecting an optical transmission fiber cable to a transmitter / receiver device through a cover. The connector features a clip connector that provides improved retention and improved life of clips in the clip connector half when interconnected with a latch beam in the complementary connector half. The connector is
It has a plug connector half and an improved clip connector half. The plug connector half has a plug with an axially extending hole for receiving an optical fiber and a transmitter adapter for axially receiving the plug through a cover. The transmitter adapter is a two-part structure consisting of a transmitter shroud and a latch beam mechanism. Transmitter shroud
It receives the plug axially and extends axially forward for alignment of the plug with respect to the transmitter / receiver device.
The latch beam mechanism is integral with the shroud and has a forward extending latch beam. The mechanism has a latch beam that spans the shroud, is fixed, and extends therefrom. Each latch beam is an elongated structural member secured to the main body of the mechanism at one end and free flexible at the opposite front end. Each beam has a front bevel and a port.

The connector is integrally attached to the transmitter / receiver device and comprises a clip connector half having an opening with bevels for receiving the latch beam. Each latch beam has a beveled front end that interacts with the respective beveled opening in the clip connector half when the plug connector half is mated with the clip connector half and aligns the beam with the aperture. Each latch beam has a port towards its front end. The port intersects the longitudinal axis of the latch beam. The clip half connector has a clip retention slot flush with each opening through a notch common to both the retention window and the opening. The clip connector half has a clip. Each clip has a dimple adapted to slide into its respective retention slot. Each slot is biased through a notch in the slot to engage the latch beam through the beam portion when the plug connector half is mated with the clip connector half. The clip connector half has a window on the same side as the slot and continuous with the slot. The clip has a flat, straight body with dimples and wings that radiate from the same side of the body. The clip slides into the slot.
At this time, the dimples engage the respective latch beam portions through the slot cutouts, and the wings project outward from the side windows of the clip connector halves.

The transmitter / receiver device may have a protruding mount connecting each transmitter / receiver device to a respective fiber optic cable extending forward within the axial bore of the plug. Each mount has a rectangular base that constitutes a flange. The clip connector half has a surface with curved shaped holes for clips that fit into the flanges of the transmitter / receiver device mount.

In addition, the connector has means associated with the plug for securing the plug within the transmitter adapter.
This means is at least one deflectable latch cooperating with a respective port of the transmitter adapter. It also has a strain relief of a tubular member with an integral means for distributing the bending along its length. Means for holding the strain relief means and the plug in the assembled state are provided on the plug and the strain relief means. The plug is provided with a threaded end, and a cap having a threaded hole complementary to the threaded end and having a reduced diameter opening hole for catching the strain relief.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS.
Includes mounting structure 2 which is a printed circuit having circuit traces to electronic components such as logic and memory devices.
Mounted on the structure 2 is a component that converts electricity into light and light into electrical signals, such as a transmitter / receiver device 3 including a pair of signal ports 4 that are suitably interconnected to a transmitter and a receiver. Has been. The yoke 5, which is the connector half, is also shown. The half structure 6 has a connector 7 of the present invention as described below.

The half structure 6 includes a plug 8 terminating a cable 9 at the front and a transmitter adapter 10. The transmitter adapter 10 is a two-part structure having a transmitter shroud 11 and an alignment adapter 12. The transmitter shroud 11 is configured to receive the plug 8 axially. The shroud 11 extends axially to align the plug with the transmitter / receiver device 3. The alignment adapter 12 has pins 1 extending therefrom.
Have three. In this embodiment, the connector half 6 is mounted in a mounting structure considered to be the panel front 14 with the connector halves 5, 6 fitted through ports 15 in the panel front 14.

The plug half connector 6 also has strain relief means 16 which is a tubular member having an integral means for distributing the bending along its length. The plug 8
It has a threaded end (not shown). The cap 17 has a threaded hole complementary to the end of the plug 8, and
It has a reduced diameter aperture that holds the strain relief 16 when the cap 17 is interengaged with the threaded end of the plug 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the yoke 5 is a yoke type frame that fits along the same centerline on the transmitter / receiver 3 and is secured to the circuit board 2 by bolt means through holes 18. To be done. The yoke 5 has an opening 19 having a beveled portion 20, and the pin 13 is guided by the beveled portion 20 into the opening 19 at the time of connection.

As shown in the figure, the transmitter adapter 10 has a molded integral structure characterized by a transmitter shroud portion 11 and an alignment pin adapter portion 12, and is fixed to each other by mutual engagement means. The interengaging means is a bolt, which passes through the common alignment hole 21 of the adapter portion 12, and also the hole 22 of the transmitter shroud 11, the horizontal mounting hole 24 of the transmitter shroud 11, and the shroud 11 and the adapter 12. It goes through a common alignment hole 21 in the alignment adapter 12 for fixing the transmitter adapter 10 to the panel front 14 as well as connecting.

The alignment adapter 12 has a mating surface 27.
And a frame 26 having a pin 13 extending from the mating surface 27 and a rear flange 25 matching the hole 21. Each pin 13 is a cylindrical body having a front beveled surface and an annular groove. When interconnected to form the transmitter adapter 10, the frame 26 of the adapter 12 includes the shroud 1
1, the mating surface 27 forms a common mating surface with the co-extending front mating surface 28 of the shroud 11. The transmitter shroud 11 comprises a body portion 29 having a front mating surface 28, a shaft cavity 30 for receiving the plug 8, an extension flange 31 having holes 22 and 24 and latch portions on opposite sides of the body portion 29.

The plug 8 is configured to be uncoupled via the means of the transmitter adapter 10 and has a molded top cover 33.
And a molded lower cover 34 has a hollow portion. Cover 3
3, 34 are made of an insulating plastic material and are molded into a shape having an outer surface dimensioned to intermate with the transmitter / receiver via the transmitter adapter 10. The upper cover 33 and the lower cover 34 have complementary shapes on their inner surfaces so as to form a predetermined passage 35. The upper cover 33 interfits with the lower cover 34 by a snap-in connection. The threaded cap 17 fixes the upper cover 33 together with the lower cover 34 and surrounds the optical fiber of the optical cable 9.
A rear flange 36 and a top cut cone shaped lead-in portion 37 are formed to fit within complementary cavities 38 and 39 formed near the closed portions of the upper cover 33 and lower cover 34. The ferrule member 40 and the lead-in portion 37 are biased in the cavity 38,
And a spring 41 adapted for a fixed fit in the housing 9. A fiber plug 42 extends from the ferrule member 40 with the exposed end surface facing the signal port 4 of the transmitter / receiver 3 and surrounding the end of the optical fiber. The plug 8 passes through the latch portion 32 and the latch 4
It is fixed in the transmitter adapter 10 by means of a biased spring fit of 3.

A transmitter / receiver device 3 and a yoke half connector 5 are shown in FIGS. The yoke half connector 5 is attached to and integrated with a transmitter or receiver device and has an opening 19 with a beveled portion 20. The signal port 4 of the transmitter / receiver 3 has a rectangular base that forms a flange 44 that functions with a conventional transmitter adapter, as described below.

The common mating surface 27 of the alignment adapter 12
And the mating surface 28 of the shroud 11 is shown. Note that the alignment adapter 12 is
To have access to a fiber plug 42 for receiving the shroud 11 and connecting to the signal port 4 of the device 3. Each pin 13 also has a barrel body 46, a beveled lead tip 47, and an annular groove 48. Lower cover 34 and fiber plug 42 of plug 8
Is shown.

During the connection between the plug connector half 6 and the yoke connector half 5, the opening 19 of the yoke half connector 5 is formed.
Receives respective pins 13 of the plug connector half 6. Here, each beveled portion 20 interacts with a respective beveled portion of each lead tip 47 and causes the barrel 46 of each pin 13 to move.
Are guided into the receiving opening 19. At the same time, each mount 42 passes through an opening 45 in the mating surface 27 of the alignment adapter 12 and is received in a respective signal port 4 of the transmitter / receiver 3 to secure each transmitter or receiver 3. , Connect to each optical fiber. Openings 45 are unobtrusive and connect with each mount 42, port 4
It passes through the plug 8 along the straight line in the axial direction of each mount 42. Conversely, conventional devices have a lip along the edge of the opening 45 to allow latching to the flange 44 of the signal port 4 of the transmitter / receiver device 3. The present invention allows for easy removal and replacement of the circuit board 2, not only does the corresponding transmitter adapter 10 need not be separated and removed, but the board 2 can be easily removed from the transmitter adapter 10 of the present invention. , Can be replaced with other boards without the need to replace the connector half associated with the plug 8.

Details of the pin connection between the alignment adapter 12 and the yoke half connector 5 are shown in FIG. The pin 13 pressed into the opening 19 of the yoke half 5 is shown in the cutout. The cross opening 19 is a hole 49 with a plunger 50. The head 51 of the plunger 50 is biased by the spring 52 to engage the annular groove 48 of the pin 13. This combination provides a positive force for locking the transmitter adapter 10 to the transmitter / receiver device 3 via the yoke half connector 5.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. The connector 7 of the present invention includes a plug 8, a transmitter adapter 10, and
Other configurations are possible as long as they are characterized by a half plug connector 6 attached to the transmitter or receiver device 3 and having an integrated yoke half 5.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Referring to FIGS. 9, 11A, 11B, 12A and 12B, electronic package 101 includes mounting structure 102, which is a printed circuit having circuit traces to electronic components such as logic and memory devices. On the structure 102,
A component that converts electricity into light and light into electrical signals, eg, a pair of signal ports 1 suitably interconnected to a transmitter and a receiver.
Attached is a transmitter / receiver device 103 including 04. The clip connector 105, which is the connector half, is also shown. The half structure 106 has a connector 107 of the present invention as described below.

The half structure 106 includes a plug 108 terminating a cable 109 at the front and a transmitter adapter 110. The transmitter adapter 110 is a two-part structure having a transmitter shroud 111 and a latch beam mechanism 112. The transmitter shroud 111 is configured to axially receive the plug 108. Shroud 111
Extends axially to align the plug with the transmitter / receiver device 103. Latch beam mechanism 11
2 has a latch beam 113 extending therefrom. In this embodiment, the connector halves 105, 106 are fitted through the ports 115 on the panel front 114 and mounted in the mounting structure.

The plug half connector 106 also has strain relief means 116 which is a tubular member having an integral means for distributing the bend along its length. The plug 108 has a threaded end (not shown). The cap 117 has a threaded hole that is complementary to the end of the plug 108 and has a reduced diameter aperture that holds the strain relief 116 when the cap 117 is engaged with the threaded end of the plug 108.

As shown in FIGS. 9, 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B and 14, the clip connector half 105 has an opening with a beveled portion 120 for receiving the latch beam 113. A cover body 118 having 119 is provided. The latch beam 113 has a beveled portion 1
It is guided by 20 into the opening 119. Clip connector half 105 also includes retention slot 121 and opening 119.
Both have a clip holding slot 121 coplanar with each opening 119 passing through the notch 122 and a clip 123 having a dimple 124 respectively. Each clip 123 has a wing 125 that is biased upward and has the function described below. Clips 123 fit within their respective retention slots 121. Here, the dimples 124 are biased through their respective cutouts 122 in the slots 121, and the wings 125 are shown in the cover body 11 of the connector half 105.
8 is retained by a snap fit in a window 126 which is a series of slots 121 underneath 8.

As shown in FIG. 9, the transmitter adapter 110 includes a transmitter shroud section 111 and a latch beam mechanism section 1.
12 is an integral structure. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, it has a two-part structure and is fixed to each other by the mutual engaging means. As the mutual engagement means, the transmitter shroud 11
There is a bolt 127 that passes through the common alignment hole of the hole 128 of No. 1 and the hole 129 of the latch mechanism 112.

Referring to FIGS. 9, 11A and 12A, the latch beam mechanism 112 includes a latch beam 113 extending from the latch beam mechanism 112 and a side extension flange, and an upper portion 131 and a lower portion 1.
A gap 133 is defined by a main body 130 having 32 and having utility as described below. Each latch beam 113 is a beam-shaped body having a front beveled surface 134 and a port 135. When interconnected to form transmitter adapter 110, main body 130 of latch beam mechanism 112, as previously described, is interengaged hole 128 aligned with hole 129 of shroud 111, as previously described. The shroud 111 is held by.

The transmitter shroud 111 has a front mating surface 1
Body portion 136 with 37, axial cavity 138 for receiving plug 108, and extension flange 13 with hole 128
9 and the latch ports 140 on both sides of the main body 136.

The plug 108 is constructed so as to be uncoupled via a means on the side of the transmitter adapter 110, and has a hollow portion composed of a molded upper cover 141 and a molded lower cover 142. The covers 141, 142 are made of an insulating plastic material and are molded into a shape having an outer surface dimensioned to intermate with the transmitter / receiver via the transmitter adapter 110. The upper cover 141 and the lower cover 142 have complementary shapes on their inner surfaces so as to form a predetermined passage 143 in which an optical cable is arranged. Top cover 1
41 interfits with the lower cover 142 by a snap-in connection. The threaded cap 117 secures the upper cover 141 together with the lower cover 142 and surrounds the optical fiber of the optical cable 109. The plug 108 is secured within the transmitter adapter 110 by the biased spring fit of the latch 144 through the latch portion 140.

The transmitter / receiver device 103 and clip connector half 105 are illustrated in FIGS. 9, 11A and 12A. The transmitter / receiver port 104 has a rectangular base that forms a flange 145. The clip connector half 105 features a mating surface 1 that features an opening 147 that forms a snap-fitting lip on the flange 145.
It comprises a cover body 118 having 46.

Referring to FIGS. 9, 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B and 13C, the clip connector half 106 and the clip connector half 105 are connected while the clip connector half 106 and the clip connector half 105 are connected. Half 105
Openings 119 receive respective latch beams 113 of the plug connector halves 106. Each beveled portion 120
It interacts with the respective beveled surface 134 of each latch beam 113 and guides each latch beam 113 into the receiving aperture 119. At the same time, the beveled surface 134 of each beam 113 contacts the dimples (recesses) 124 of the clip 123 and deflects the dimples 124 outwards against the bias of the clip body 123. As the beam 113 is further inserted into the aperture 119, each dimple 124 will move into the beam 11
The body of 3 is cleared so that it is aligned with the port 135 and snaps into the port 135. The dimple 124 is still pressed into the port 135, and the bias of the clip body 123 causes the beam 113 to move.
Is held in place and the clip body 123 is retained in the clip connector half 105 by means of seating the wing 125 in the window 126. At the same time, the fitting of the latch beams 113 of the connector halves 106 into their respective openings 119 and the clips 123 of the clip connector halves 105 allows the transmitter / receiver device 103 to move within the axial cavities 138 of the transmitter shroud 111. Through
A transmitter / receiver 103 is connected to each optical fiber disposed within transmitter shroud 111.

Again, FIG. 9, FIG. 11A, FIG. 12A, and FIG.
Referring to A, FIG. 15B, and FIG. 16A to FIG. 16E, even if the components are misaligned and proper mating or corresponding mounting by the conventional transmitter adapter 110 is not possible, A floating fit of transmitter adapter 110 is shown to allow alignment to transmitter / receiver device 103 and clip connector half 105. Main body 149
A holding frame 148 having an extension arm 150 and an extension arm 150 are shown. Each extension arm has a rear extension pedestal 15
1 and defines a gap 152. Holding frame 1
48 spans transmitter adapter 110 and is secured to cover 114 by interconnection to cover plate 153. The cover plate 153 has two parts, a relatively flat part 154 whose bottom part fits flush with the cover 114.
And an outcrop portion 155 that rises from the plane of the flat portion 154 and defines a cover plate window 156.
The cover plate 153 has a hole 1 in the cover plate 153.
It is fixed to the cover 114 with bolts or the like passing through the holes 58 and the holes 159 of the cover 114. The interconnection means between the holding frame 148 and the plate 153 is provided by the cover plate 153.
Commonly aligned holes 161, holes 1 in cover 114
62 and the bolt 1 passing through the hole 163 of the holding frame 148
It is 60 mag.

Holding frame 1 on transmitter adapter 110
The straddle of 48 and the interconnection of frame 148 to cover 114 and plate 153 allow pedestal 151 to
Is the respective gap 133 of the latch beam mechanism 112.
Fits in Each gap 152 of the holding frame 148
Is defined by the main body 149 and the pedestal 151,
It fits loosely with the respective flange 131 of the latch beam mechanism 112. Also, the gap 133 of the latch mechanism 112 is defined by the respective upper 131 and lower 132 flanges and loosely fits with the respective pedestal 151 of the frame 148. As a result, the transmitter adapter 110 is retained by the retaining frame 148 in such a manner as to allow vertical movement of the adapter 110 relative to the cover 114 within the frame 148. Further, when the spacing between pedestals 151 exceeds the distance between gaps 133, transmitter adapter 110 is also capable of horizontal movement.

The holding frame 14 is shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B.
8, connection between panel front 114 and cover plate 153, transmitter shroud 111 and latch beam mechanism 11
2 connection and holding frame 148, panel front 11
4 and cover plate 153 within the shroud 111 and latch beam mechanism 112 floating fit is shown. On the other hand, in FIGS. 16A to 16E, the holding frame 1 is shown.
48, panel front 114 and cover plate 153
The transmitter adapter 110 is shown floating in a fixed structure that is a combination of As surrounded by the transmitter adapter 110, a plug is attached to the cover 114 to allow mating even if there is misalignment during mating of the plug 108 with the transmitter / receiver device 103. The need arises to lift 108 slightly. FIG. 16A shows a combined structure of the storage frame 148, the panel front 114 and the cover plate 153, which allows the plug 108 and the transmitter adapter 110 to float upward and facilitate the fitting. Similarly, FIG. 16B shows the plug 108 and transmitter adapter 110 floating to the right for mating,
FIG. 16C shows the left floating state, FIG. 16D shows the upward and rightward floating states, and FIG. 16E shows the upward and leftward floating states.

As shown in FIGS. 13A-13C, the latch beams 113 approach their respective clip openings 119 during the connection of the half structure 6 to the clip connector half 5.
At this time, the beveled surface 134 of each beam is in contact with the beveled portion 120 of each clip opening 119. Beveled surface 1
The interaction of 34 with bevels 120 directs each beam into a respective aperture 119. Transmitter adapter 11 when mated
The 0 and floating of the plug 108 allows alignment adjustment of the beam 113 to the aperture 119 along the plane of the bevel 120. At the same time, the floating feature allows alignment to the respective optical fibers disposed by the ferrule (not shown) in the plug 108 of the signal port 104 of the transmitter / receiver device 103. Beam 113 opening 11
Proceeding into 9 the beveled surface 130 contacts the dimples 124 of the clip 123. The beveled surface 134 is pressed against the dimple 124, and the opening 11 is opened through the port 122.
Biased during 9. The beveled surface 134 is the port 122.
Without it, the dimple 124 is pushed against the bias to allow the beam 113 to travel up to the opening 119.
When the port 135 is aligned with the port 122, the dimple 124 snaps back into the opening 119 and seats within the port 135 of the latch beam 113. The snap fit of the dimple 124 to the port 135 holds the beam 113 within the opening 119 of the clip half 105 with a predetermined holding force.

While the improved clip connector half 105 of the present invention has been described above in connection with a connector having a floating fit feature, the present invention may take other configurations. That is, the present invention relates to each latch beam 1
Clip connector half 105 having an opening with a beveled portion 120 for receiving 13, a retaining slot 121 and an opening 1
Each of the open slots 121 passes through a notch 122 common to both 19 and a clip 123 having a dimple 124. Clips 123 are adapted to slide into their respective retention slots 121. At this time, the dimples 124 are biased through the notches 122 in the slots 121 and engage the latch beam 113 through the port 135 of the beam 113 when the plug connector half 106 is fitted into the clip connector half 105.

[0042]

As described above, according to the connector of the present invention, various types of connector halves can be accurately aligned at the time of fitting and the fitting can be performed without the need for a separate interconnection adapter. Allows mated connector halves to be latched to each other. In particular, it is suitable for an optical connector that connects an optical fiber cable to a transceiver adapter.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of a connector cover and transmitter and receiver devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector half in the fitting preparation state along the corresponding mounting structure in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a connector half according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of FIG. 1 after fitting in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view of the connector before fitting in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway view of the connector after fitting in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway top view of the connector before fitting in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway top view of the connector after fitting in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view along line 8-8 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of a cover of a connector having an improved clip connector half according to another embodiment of the present invention along with a transmitter or receiver device.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a molded single piece transmitter adapter in another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing a connector half at a mating preparation stage in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11B is an exploded perspective view showing a connection between a latch beam and an opening showing a clip holding slot and a clip according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view showing a fitting connector half along a corresponding mounting structure in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12B is a perspective view of a connected latch beam and aperture in another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13A is a partial cross-sectional view of a latch beam, opening and clip during mating according to another embodiment of the present invention.

13B is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 5B-5B of FIG. 12B.

13C is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 5C-5C of FIG. 12B.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a clip connector half according to another embodiment of the present invention.

15A is a partial cross-sectional view through the interconnection between the cover plate, panel and half structure of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 15B is a view similar to FIG. 15A with some parts exploded.

FIG. 16A is a rear elevational view showing a panel front and a connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16B is a rear elevational view showing the panel front and the connector in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16C is a rear elevational view showing the panel front and the connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16D is a rear elevational view showing the panel front and the connector in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16E is a rear elevational view showing the panel front and the connector in another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3, 103 transmitter / receiver device 5 yoke half connector 6, 106 plug connector half 7, 107 connector 8, 108 plug 9, 109 cable 10 transmitter adapter 13 pin 20 beveled 111 transmitter shroud 114 cover ( Panel front) 121 Clip holding slot 123 Clip 124 Dimple 135 port

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Robert Carl Briggs United States, Pennsylvania 17074 Newport North Force Street 342 (72) Inventor Brian Thomas Edwards, Pennsylvania United States 17011 Camp Hill Blackmore Court 6 (72) Inventor David Darrell Sonar 17111 Harrisburg Peachtree Treat 6061 (72) Inventor Robert Ney Weber United States Pennsylvania 17036 Hamelstown South Railroad Street 29

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connector for connecting a cable to a transmitter / receiver device, the plug receiving the cable, the plug having a hole extending in the axial direction, and the plug receiving the plug in the axial direction and in the axial direction. A transmitter adapter that extends and aligns the plug with respect to the transmitter / receiver device and has a front mating surface; A plug half connector having a fixed, forwardly extending pin, and integrally attached to the transmitter / receiver device,
A yoke half connector having an opening with a beveled portion for receiving the pin, the beveled portion guiding and receiving the pin into the opening. connector. 2. A connector for connecting a cable to a transmitter / receiver device through a cover, the plug including an axially extending hole for receiving the cable, and a shaft for connecting the plug through the cover. Accept in the direction,
A latch beam having a transmitter shroud extending in a forward axial direction for alignment of the plug with respect to the transmitter / receiver device and a latch beam integrated with the transmitter shroud and having a port formed on a front end side of each A plug connector half having a transmitter adapter having a mechanism, and integrally attached to the transmitter / receiver device,
A clip connector half having a beveled opening for receiving each of the latch beams, a clip having a dimple, and a clip retaining slot for retaining the clip, the dimple being in the slot. Biased through a notch, the clips slide in their respective clip retention slots,
A connector for engaging with the latch beam through a port of the latch beam when the plug connector half is fitted into the clip connector half.