JPS60188912A - Electric/optical composite connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To connect simultaneously electric and optical cables in a small size and at a low cost by holding the tip part of an optical fiber by forming in one body with an electric plug, and also holding the tip part of the optical fiber by forming in one body with an electric plug socket. CONSTITUTION:Electric wires 101', 102' are connected to metallic plates 310, 311 provided on an electric/optical plug part 21 and the tip part of an optical fiber 110' is inserted and fixed into a metallic sleeve 410. An electric/optical plug socket part 11 also consists of the same structure, electric wires 101, 102 are connected to the metallic plates 310, 311, and an optical fiber 110 is inserted and fixed into a metallic sleeve 400. Also, these are connected in the same way as a usual electric plug socket and a plug. Therefore, electric and optical cables can be connected simultaneously in a small size and at a low cost, and can be used effectively for connecting a terminal equipment, etc. of a simple system of a home bath, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION fl) Technical Field The present invention relates to an inexpensive and simple electrical/optical composite connector that can connect optical and electrical connections at once.

(2) Prior art and its problems In recent years, the quality of optical semiconductor elements and optical fibers has improved, and the practical application of optical fiber communications has progressed rapidly. In the near future, the introduction of information systems such as a hall control system and a security system in the bathroom is being considered, and the introduction of light into homes and baths is also being considered.

In this light-based home bus, since the terminal equipment uses electricity, a combined optical and electrical connector is one of the indispensable devices.

Conventionally, for this purpose, it has been considered to use electrical cables and optical cables separately and connect them with electrical connectors and optical connectors, respectively, and a combined electrical/optical connector has not been considered.

(3) Purpose of the Invention The purpose of the present invention is to connect drowsiness and optical cables at the same time. The object of the present invention is to provide a small, inexpensive, and simple electrical/optical composite connector.

(4) Structure of the Invention The present invention provides an electric/optical plug in which a first optical fiber holder that holds the tip of an optical fiber is integrated with an electric plug, and a second optical fiber holder that holds the tip of the optical fiber. The optical fiber holder consists of an electrical outlet and an integrated electro-optic outlet.

(5) Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the electrical/optical composite connector according to the present invention. Figure 1 (cl, d) is a cross-sectional view of the section. Electric wires 101, 102 used for two parallel electric wires
, 101, 102 and an optical fiber 1 made of plastic.
10 and 110' are integrated to form a flat cable 10 and 10'. The metal plates 310 and 311 provided in the electrical, electrical, and optical plug sections 21 are connected to the electrical wires 10 and 311, respectively.
1', 102' like a normal electric plug, the tip of the optical fiber 110 is a concentric first metal sleeve 41O (which is a first reinforcing member).
(corresponding to a first holder), and is fixed so that the center of the core of the optical fiber 110 is located at the center of the glare metal sleeve 410, and its tip is cut off.

The tip of the first metal sleeve 410 into which the metal plates 310, 311 and the optical fiber are inserted is molded with resin like a normal electric plug, leaving a desired length.

On the other hand, the electric/light outlet section 11 is connected to a metal plate 310°31
Spring-like U-shaped metal parts 300 and 301, into which the cable 1 is inserted and come into contact with the metal plates 310 and 311, respectively, are connected to the cables 101 and 102. Similar to the plug section 21, the optical fiber 110 has its tip inserted into a concentric second metal sleeve 409, which is a second reinforcing member, and the core of the optical fiber 110 is inserted into the center of the metal sleeve 409. It is fixed so that it is centered.

Here, the outer diameters of the first and second metal sleeves 410, 409 are the same. On the outside of the second metal sleeve 409,
A cylindrical third metal sleeve 400 that fits into the second metal sleeve 409 is provided and secured.

The first metal sleeve 410 is fitted with the third metal sleeve 400 when the electric/optical plug part 21 is inserted into the electric/optical outlet part 11 and the electric/optical plug part 21 and the electric/optical composite When the end surfaces of the outlet portion 11 abut, the first and #g2 metal sleeves 410, 4
The tips of 09 are now touching each other. The electrical/light outlet part 11 is made of U-shaped metal parts 300, 301. 2nd 3rd gold bi sleeve 409,400o and electric 111!1
01, 102 and the tip of the optical fiber 110 are molded with resin like a normal electrical outlet. or,
The second optical fiber holder is comprised of second and third metal tubes. The optical fiber used here had a core diameter of about 950 μm and an outer diameter of 1 ws NAo,s, and the loss when connected was as low as 0.5 dB.

First, second and 1iA3 metal sleeves 410.40
9400 may be made of mold, ceramic, or the like, and its shape is not limited to a circular shape as long as the first and second metal sleeves 410, 409 are fitted into the third metal sleeve 400K. U-shaped metal parts 300 and 301 are metal plates 3
10, 311 so that they come into contact when inserted, it is sufficient that the connector is one that is used in a normal electric socket. Further, although both the plug portion 21 and the outlet portion 11 are molded, it goes without saying that they may be made of a plastic material like a normal electrical connector, and the end face shape may be circular. Electric wire 101,
102, 101', 10 Da and optical fiber 110, 1
10' may be an integrated flat cable 10. In addition to 10', a normal 37'' cable may be used.

Note that the optical fibers 110 and 110' may be made of silica fiber other than plastic, and are not limited to one each. The outlet portion 11 may be recessed into the wall and shut off like a normal electric outlet, or may be like a power strip.

In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the first metal sleeve 410 protruding from the electric plug was integrated as an electric/optical plug, but other structures may be used, for example, as shown in FIG. structure provided with a metal sleeve 409.400,
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the metal sleeve 41
The tip of the plug may be cut off at the end of the plug case. Similarly, electrical/optical connectors are shown in Figure 2 (
b) A structure with a protruding metal sleeve as shown in K, Fig. 3 (b) A structure with a cutout on the end face of the connector case as shown in K, etc. (6) Beyond the effects of the invention, this Invented electrical/optical composite connector,
As described in detail using examples, the electrical/optical composite connector according to the present invention has features such as integrating electrical and optical connectors, and being extremely inexpensive and simple to use in a shed. It is particularly suitable for connecting terminal equipment, etc. of simple systems such as home buses and data transmission systems in offices.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) to 1(d) are diagrams showing a preferred embodiment of the electrical/optical composite connector according to the present invention, and FIG.
(b) is a perspective view, and (c) and (d) are ti sectional views. FIG. 2 ta+-(b) and FIGS. 3(a) and (b) are diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention. In the figure, 10.10'... flat cable, 1
1...Outlet part, 21...Plug part, 10
1,102101.102 ・、、Electric wire、110,11
0' optical fiber, 300.301-U-shaped metal, 3
10,311 ・, -metal plate, 400.409,410
...Metal sleeve. a

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electrical/optical plug in which a first optical fiber holder that holds the tip of the optical fiber is integrated with the electrical plug, and a second optical fiber holder that holds the tip of the optical fiber is integrated with the electrical outlet. An electrical/optical composite connector characterized by comprising an electrical/optical outlet and an electrical/optical outlet.