CA1195541A - Optical fiber connector and housing structure for other applications - Google Patents
Optical fiber connector and housing structure for other applicationsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1195541A CA1195541A CA000405496A CA405496A CA1195541A CA 1195541 A CA1195541 A CA 1195541A CA 000405496 A CA000405496 A CA 000405496A CA 405496 A CA405496 A CA 405496A CA 1195541 A CA1195541 A CA 1195541A
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- connector
- fiber
- optical fiber
- housing
- clamp
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR AND HOUSING STRUCTURE FOR
OTHER APPLICATIONS
The hybrid connector concurrently connects electrical conductors and optical fibers terminated in the connector to electrical conductors and optical fibers respectively terminated in a mating array of electrical contacts and optical fiber connecting elements. This mating array may be in a mating connector. Each optical fiber is clamped within the connector housing and surrounded by a guide which extends from the clamp toward the mating end of the housing for abutting the fiber connection elements of the mating array. The clamp and the fiber guide form the optical fiber connector and are mounted within the housing for retractive movement against spring action in a direction away from the connector mating end relative to the electrical contacts of the connector. Upon the mating engagement of the connector with the array of electrical con-tacts and optical fiber connecting elements, the clamp and the fiber encompassing member cooperate to gauge the connections between an optical fiber held by the clamp and another optical fiber of the array independently of the connection between the electrical contacts of the connector and mating electrical contacts of the array. The connector housing structure com-prises two hermaphroditic-housing half shells which may be coupled together to form a connector housing that can be inter-locked to another housing similarly formed from two half shells by sliding the two connector housings together so that flex-ible fingers on one housing engage latches on the other housing.
Cantilever release arms are positioned adjacent to the latches to facilitate disconnection of two interlocked connector hous-ings.
OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR AND HOUSING STRUCTURE FOR
OTHER APPLICATIONS
The hybrid connector concurrently connects electrical conductors and optical fibers terminated in the connector to electrical conductors and optical fibers respectively terminated in a mating array of electrical contacts and optical fiber connecting elements. This mating array may be in a mating connector. Each optical fiber is clamped within the connector housing and surrounded by a guide which extends from the clamp toward the mating end of the housing for abutting the fiber connection elements of the mating array. The clamp and the fiber guide form the optical fiber connector and are mounted within the housing for retractive movement against spring action in a direction away from the connector mating end relative to the electrical contacts of the connector. Upon the mating engagement of the connector with the array of electrical con-tacts and optical fiber connecting elements, the clamp and the fiber encompassing member cooperate to gauge the connections between an optical fiber held by the clamp and another optical fiber of the array independently of the connection between the electrical contacts of the connector and mating electrical contacts of the array. The connector housing structure com-prises two hermaphroditic-housing half shells which may be coupled together to form a connector housing that can be inter-locked to another housing similarly formed from two half shells by sliding the two connector housings together so that flex-ible fingers on one housing engage latches on the other housing.
Cantilever release arms are positioned adjacent to the latches to facilitate disconnection of two interlocked connector hous-ings.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE_INVENTION
This invention relates to a novel optical fiber connector and housing structure for a hybrid optical/elec~rical connector and other applications.
In recent years, communications via fiber optics has enjoyed a rapid rate of growth~ The advantages of transmission over fiber optic cables include increased capacity and the elimination of undesirable interference and cros~-talk which is present in conventional electrically conducting wire cablesO
In spite of these advantages, optical equipment normally still requires elactrically conducting wires. For example, in an optical communications repeating station, electrically con ducting wires are used to provide electrlcal powex for circu.itry which amplifies or repeats communications signals carried on optical fibers. Accordingly, it is often times desirable to interconnect both optical fibers and electrically conducting wires in a single connection to facilitate installation and maintenance of communications equipment.
~ owever, various inconsistencies or dif~iculties are encountered i.n combining the connection of optical fibers with the connection of electrical conductors. Optical fi~ers typically have a small light conducting core area, particularly when employed in long distance applications, and require tightly controlled tolerances for connections which provide minimum loss o F transmitted light. On the oth~r hand~
tolerances for connecting electrical conductors are much greater and allow for mass production of relatively inexpensive con-'~
5'~ ~
This invention relates to a novel optical fiber connector and housing structure for a hybrid optical/elec~rical connector and other applications.
In recent years, communications via fiber optics has enjoyed a rapid rate of growth~ The advantages of transmission over fiber optic cables include increased capacity and the elimination of undesirable interference and cros~-talk which is present in conventional electrically conducting wire cablesO
In spite of these advantages, optical equipment normally still requires elactrically conducting wires. For example, in an optical communications repeating station, electrically con ducting wires are used to provide electrlcal powex for circu.itry which amplifies or repeats communications signals carried on optical fibers. Accordingly, it is often times desirable to interconnect both optical fibers and electrically conducting wires in a single connection to facilitate installation and maintenance of communications equipment.
~ owever, various inconsistencies or dif~iculties are encountered i.n combining the connection of optical fibers with the connection of electrical conductors. Optical fi~ers typically have a small light conducting core area, particularly when employed in long distance applications, and require tightly controlled tolerances for connections which provide minimum loss o F transmitted light. On the oth~r hand~
tolerances for connecting electrical conductors are much greater and allow for mass production of relatively inexpensive con-'~
5'~ ~
2-nectors. Clearly, it i9 inefficient to impose the exacting tolerances requirecl for optical fibers upon an entire connector system for connecting both optical fibers and electrical con-ductors.
Various fiber optical c:onnector techniques are well known in the prior art. For example, one such connector tech-nique i5 disclosed in United Stat:es Patent r~O. 4,225,214 (wherein a spring loaded cylinder is retrclcted to expose and guide a first fiber into a fiber guide where it is placed in contact with a second fiber). ~Iowever, t.he adaption of known tech-niques used in fiber optic connec:tors to existing eleckrical conductor connectors to arrive at a combined fiber/wire connector, presents various difficulties, such as producing undue stress or pressure on the fibers resulting in micro bending losses or fracture of the fibers.
To control the tolerances, fibers must be accurately cut or pcsitioned relative to defirled elements within fiber optic connectors so that the ends of two fibers can be accurately positioned relative to one another or contacted ~0 with one another with little overtravel. Individual fibers typically are clamped and then cut relative to the clamp.
The design of the fiber clamp is very important since the clamp must secure the fiber tiyhtly enough to withstand connecting forces cdue to abutment of fiber ends but not so tightly as to induce micro bend losses through stress deformation of the fiber. The design of the clamp is further complicated by the minute sizes of the fibers bei~g clamped, e.g., a few thousandths of an inch in diameter for typical optical fibers.
Exemplaxy of existing fiber clamps is that of an hermaphroditic scissors type clamp which is disclosed in Lumpp and Margolin United States Patent No. 4,247,163.
For hybrid optical/electrical connectors, as well as other multi-conductor connectors, it is desirable to assemble the various conductors and incidental connecting components into a connector housing which provides for interconnection of all the different c:onductors in a single operation. The housings of such connectors are often times molded or cast from a re latively inflexib].e metal or plastic material.
A wide variety of such connector housings are known~
--3~
These known connector housings, however, do not perform -the interconnection function, or re~uire three to four different parts to form the male and female housings, and the various half shells and parts may be quite similar to one another.
Accordingly, for such known conn~ector housings~ the different parts must be separated and carefully assembled to insure that the proper parts and/or half shells are being used at the appropriate step in the construction of the connector housings.
In one known connector housing, for example, two identical housing half shells are connected together to incor-porate additional male parts to form a male housing. Two more identical housing half shells are connected together to incorporate additionaL femaLe parts to form a female housiny.
These connector housings require at least three different parts to form the male and female housingsO
In another known connector housing, two identical housing half shells are connected together to protect conductor terminations on either a male connector or a female connector.
However, the known housings so formed do not interconnect one to another but rely on the enclosed male and female connectors for such interconnection.
StilL another known connector housing requires four different housing half shells- two to form the male housing and two more to form the female housing.
SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
. ~
One useful application of the invention is in a hybrid connector for the concurrent interconnection of electri-cal contacts and of optical fibers by relative movement of the connector into mating engagement with a mating array of electrical contacts and optical fibers. The connector housing, which constitutes a subject of the invention, has a mating end, with electrical contacts supported in the housing and exposed -toward the mating end thereof. A fiber clamp, fiber guide, and gauge means within the housing form an optical fiber connector accordiny to the invention for holding an optical fiber. The fiber guide and gauge means are disposed between the clamp and the mating end of the housing for abutment with fiber connection means of the connec~ing axray of electrical contacts and optical fibers upon movement of the connector into mating engagement with the array. The clamp and the guide and gauge means are mounted within the housing for retractive movemsnt in a direction away from the mating end relative to the elec-trical contac~s of ~he connector.
Upon the mating engagement of the connector with the array of electrical contacts and optical fibers, the clamp and the yuide and gauge means gauges the connections between the 10 opti¢al fiber held by the clamp and another optical fiber of the array, independently of the connection between the electri-cal contacts of the connector and the mating electrical contacts of the array. Two such hybrid connectors can be pLaced in mating engagement with one another to interconnect optical fibers and to interconnect electrical contacts connected to electrical conductors.
In the illustrative embodiment of the present inven-tion, which is a hybrid optical/electrical connector, male and female electrical connectors having intermateable pin and socket electrical con~acts as well as apertures for receiving optical fiber connecting elements are received wi~hin first and second housings. These housings are uniquely constructed in accordance with the invention to facilitate their fabrication and assembly with the other connector parts, to enable them to 25 be interlocked to one another to securely interconnect the è~ectricalconnectors, and to adapt them to more general usage for interconnecting various communication transmission cables.
According to a feature of the invention, each housing may comprise two hermaphroditic half shells. A fiber mounting 30 block is retained within each housing and is resiliently biased toward its associated electrical connector. A fiber clamp engages an optical fiber and is adapted to be inserted into one of a plurality of apertures in the mounting block to clamp the fiber in a fixed position relative to the mounting blockO
Various fiber optical c:onnector techniques are well known in the prior art. For example, one such connector tech-nique i5 disclosed in United Stat:es Patent r~O. 4,225,214 (wherein a spring loaded cylinder is retrclcted to expose and guide a first fiber into a fiber guide where it is placed in contact with a second fiber). ~Iowever, t.he adaption of known tech-niques used in fiber optic connec:tors to existing eleckrical conductor connectors to arrive at a combined fiber/wire connector, presents various difficulties, such as producing undue stress or pressure on the fibers resulting in micro bending losses or fracture of the fibers.
To control the tolerances, fibers must be accurately cut or pcsitioned relative to defirled elements within fiber optic connectors so that the ends of two fibers can be accurately positioned relative to one another or contacted ~0 with one another with little overtravel. Individual fibers typically are clamped and then cut relative to the clamp.
The design of the fiber clamp is very important since the clamp must secure the fiber tiyhtly enough to withstand connecting forces cdue to abutment of fiber ends but not so tightly as to induce micro bend losses through stress deformation of the fiber. The design of the clamp is further complicated by the minute sizes of the fibers bei~g clamped, e.g., a few thousandths of an inch in diameter for typical optical fibers.
Exemplaxy of existing fiber clamps is that of an hermaphroditic scissors type clamp which is disclosed in Lumpp and Margolin United States Patent No. 4,247,163.
For hybrid optical/electrical connectors, as well as other multi-conductor connectors, it is desirable to assemble the various conductors and incidental connecting components into a connector housing which provides for interconnection of all the different c:onductors in a single operation. The housings of such connectors are often times molded or cast from a re latively inflexib].e metal or plastic material.
A wide variety of such connector housings are known~
--3~
These known connector housings, however, do not perform -the interconnection function, or re~uire three to four different parts to form the male and female housings, and the various half shells and parts may be quite similar to one another.
Accordingly, for such known conn~ector housings~ the different parts must be separated and carefully assembled to insure that the proper parts and/or half shells are being used at the appropriate step in the construction of the connector housings.
In one known connector housing, for example, two identical housing half shells are connected together to incor-porate additional male parts to form a male housing. Two more identical housing half shells are connected together to incorporate additionaL femaLe parts to form a female housiny.
These connector housings require at least three different parts to form the male and female housingsO
In another known connector housing, two identical housing half shells are connected together to protect conductor terminations on either a male connector or a female connector.
However, the known housings so formed do not interconnect one to another but rely on the enclosed male and female connectors for such interconnection.
StilL another known connector housing requires four different housing half shells- two to form the male housing and two more to form the female housing.
SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
. ~
One useful application of the invention is in a hybrid connector for the concurrent interconnection of electri-cal contacts and of optical fibers by relative movement of the connector into mating engagement with a mating array of electrical contacts and optical fibers. The connector housing, which constitutes a subject of the invention, has a mating end, with electrical contacts supported in the housing and exposed -toward the mating end thereof. A fiber clamp, fiber guide, and gauge means within the housing form an optical fiber connector accordiny to the invention for holding an optical fiber. The fiber guide and gauge means are disposed between the clamp and the mating end of the housing for abutment with fiber connection means of the connec~ing axray of electrical contacts and optical fibers upon movement of the connector into mating engagement with the array. The clamp and the guide and gauge means are mounted within the housing for retractive movemsnt in a direction away from the mating end relative to the elec-trical contac~s of ~he connector.
Upon the mating engagement of the connector with the array of electrical contacts and optical fibers, the clamp and the yuide and gauge means gauges the connections between the 10 opti¢al fiber held by the clamp and another optical fiber of the array, independently of the connection between the electri-cal contacts of the connector and the mating electrical contacts of the array. Two such hybrid connectors can be pLaced in mating engagement with one another to interconnect optical fibers and to interconnect electrical contacts connected to electrical conductors.
In the illustrative embodiment of the present inven-tion, which is a hybrid optical/electrical connector, male and female electrical connectors having intermateable pin and socket electrical con~acts as well as apertures for receiving optical fiber connecting elements are received wi~hin first and second housings. These housings are uniquely constructed in accordance with the invention to facilitate their fabrication and assembly with the other connector parts, to enable them to 25 be interlocked to one another to securely interconnect the è~ectricalconnectors, and to adapt them to more general usage for interconnecting various communication transmission cables.
According to a feature of the invention, each housing may comprise two hermaphroditic half shells. A fiber mounting 30 block is retained within each housing and is resiliently biased toward its associated electrical connector. A fiber clamp engages an optical fiber and is adapted to be inserted into one of a plurality of apertures in the mounting block to clamp the fiber in a fixed position relative to the mounting blockO
3~ One hcusing includes a fiber receptacle between and engaging the fiber clamp and the associated male electrical connector.
An extension of the fiber receptacle extends into an aperture o the male connector and includes an optical fiber guide.
The other housing includes a retractable fiber encompassing 1~ ~3 5 ~
piston reciprocally movable relative to the respective fiber clamp and extends into and is guided by the associated female electrical connector.
The fiber in one housing is cut rela~ive to its clamp such that it extends to the approximate center of the iber guide mounted in the fiber receptacle extension. The fiber in the other housing is cut relative to its mount:ing block such that when the fiber receptacle and the retractable piston are engaged and the piston is fully retracted, the fiber ends are in contact with one 10 another in the fiber guide~ Each fiber cl~mp firmly clamps its fiber while it is being cut. The ~lamp has two clamping portions with opposed rounded clamping surfaces which present smooth suraces to the fiber to a~oid micxo bending and the associated losses as the fiber flexes and bends while held by the clamp.
In the preferred clamp, a hinge portion joins the two clamping portions to facilitate clamping of a fiber by folding the clamp at the hinge portion and about the fiber.
The hinge portion of the clamp includes a centrally located aperture which allows for repositioning an optical fiber 20 which may have become misaligned. This is accomplished by inserting a ~ointed object into the aperture and prying the clamping portions apart. While the clamping portions are thus spread or opened, the fiber can be accurately positioned after which the clamping portions are released to return to their clamping positions.
Advantageously, the optical fiber clamp is constructed as a unitary piece of resilient material with the hinge portion com-prising a section of the resilient material which is sufficiently thin relative to the fiber clamping portions to allow hinged move-ment of the clamping portions. When folded into a iber clamping 30 position, the structure o the clamp is such that it appears the same whether viewed from the front or the rear along the axis of the clamped fiber. This "symmetry" allows the clamp to be folded about a fiber without special orientation of the clamp relative to the fiber.
When the connector housings are engaged, their electxical contacts are interconnected. As the housings and asso-ciated connectors enter into mating engagement, the f iber recep-tacle enga~es and drives the retractable fiber piston back until it engages its associated clamp.
The second fiber end is then contacting the first fiber end within and near the center of the fi-~er guide. However, the electricaL ConnectGrS, which are 5designed to the tolerances necessary for connecting electrical conductors and/or coaxial conductors, are not completely interconnected and require additional connectional movement to insure proper interconnec-tion.
Thus, the iber ends are contacted with one another prior to the complete interconnecting or seating of the electrical connectors. Conventional optical connecting elements could prevent the addi-tional movement required to seat the connectors or 9 15if such movement occurred, the fibers could be damaged thereby~ That is, the additional connecting movement required to completely seat the electrical connectors would cause forces to be applied to the contacting optical fibers by the conventional optical 20connecting elements. However, in the present con-nector, the movemerlt and related forces are ~bsorbed by the resiliently positioned mounting blocks within the housings.
The optical fibers are cut to have slight 25excess length. The excess length of the fibers i5 taken up in drip loops developed in the fiber recep-tacle and the retractable fiber encompassing piston.
Drip loops are also formed between the fiber clamps and the cable clamps at the ends of the housings 30opposite to the mating ends as the mounting blocks are articulated away from the connectors to allow for 3~
c~m~lete seating of the connectors. The llousings include flexible fingers which engage mating snap latches so that the housings and enclosed connectors can be releasably connected together. Thus, in 5 accordance with the present invention, both elec-trical conductors and optical fibers are efficiently releasably connected in a single connector.
BRIEF D~:SCRIPTION OF THE DR.AWINGS
The invention of the present application 10 will be better understood from a review of the detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of two inter~
mateable hybrid connectors employing teachings ~f the 15 present inven ion.
FIG~ 2 is a perspective view of the hybrid connectors of FIG. 1 showing the two connector housings in an interconnected position.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through 20 one of the connectors of ~IG~ 2, taken generally along line 3 3.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the mating ends of the connectors of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a partially sectional plan-view 25 Of the connectors of FIG~ 1.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are sectional views of the upper central portion of the connectors as sho~ in FIG. 4, taken through a fiber optic connection and an electrical connection, in two stages of intermating.
FIG. 5 is a partially sectional side view of the connectors of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 6 through 9 show top, bottom and sectional views as indicated, respectively, of one of the hermaphroditic connector half shells, two of which fc-m each connector housingO
FIGS~ 10 and 11 are a top plan view and a fron^_ view respectively of the mounting block used in t~.c hy~rid connecto~s of FIG. 1.
FIG~ 12 is a perspective view of a fiber clamp used in the connectors o.f FIG. 1 in engagement 1~ with an optical fiber. The clamp is shown in more detail in FIGS. 13l 14 and 15 which show top, front and side view~ respectively of the clamp as it is formed prior to being folded into engagement w.ith a fiber as in FIG. 12~
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one optical fiber guide which may be employed in the hybrid connector of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another optical fiber guide, employing four guide rods, which 20 may be employe~ in the hybrid connector.
FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary longi-tudinal sectional view of a iber guide as in FIG.
16, with abutting fibers therein.
FIG. 19 is a fragmentary transverse sec-25tional view illustrated on an enlarged scale taken online 19-19 of FIG. 180 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLVSTRATED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the two intermateable hybrid connectors lOA, lOB also shown 30intermated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The male connector r~
lOA and the female connector lOB are similar, but ~lightly different in internal assembly, and some-times are identified generically by the number 10.
Each connector 10 comprises two connector 5half shells 12 which~ in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, are identical to ~ne another a~d fully hermaphr~ditic as will ~e de~cribed in detail herei~after with reference to ~IG5. 6 through 9. The respective connectox half shells 12 axe joine~
10together ~o form a housing 13 w:hich engages flange~
14 of one of a pair o~ intermat~eable electrical connectors 16, 18.
Each of the c~nnectors 1~, 18 may utilize electrical contacts and intermatiny designs of gen-15erally known construc~ions. For example, they mayutilize the illustrated pin and socket contacts 19, 21 (see FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B) or ribbon-type contacts, or they may include coaxial cable eontacts. Further they may be of a high density multiple conta~t 20design, such as the ribbon-type connectors illus-trated in McKee et al. ~nited States Patent No.
An extension of the fiber receptacle extends into an aperture o the male connector and includes an optical fiber guide.
The other housing includes a retractable fiber encompassing 1~ ~3 5 ~
piston reciprocally movable relative to the respective fiber clamp and extends into and is guided by the associated female electrical connector.
The fiber in one housing is cut rela~ive to its clamp such that it extends to the approximate center of the iber guide mounted in the fiber receptacle extension. The fiber in the other housing is cut relative to its mount:ing block such that when the fiber receptacle and the retractable piston are engaged and the piston is fully retracted, the fiber ends are in contact with one 10 another in the fiber guide~ Each fiber cl~mp firmly clamps its fiber while it is being cut. The ~lamp has two clamping portions with opposed rounded clamping surfaces which present smooth suraces to the fiber to a~oid micxo bending and the associated losses as the fiber flexes and bends while held by the clamp.
In the preferred clamp, a hinge portion joins the two clamping portions to facilitate clamping of a fiber by folding the clamp at the hinge portion and about the fiber.
The hinge portion of the clamp includes a centrally located aperture which allows for repositioning an optical fiber 20 which may have become misaligned. This is accomplished by inserting a ~ointed object into the aperture and prying the clamping portions apart. While the clamping portions are thus spread or opened, the fiber can be accurately positioned after which the clamping portions are released to return to their clamping positions.
Advantageously, the optical fiber clamp is constructed as a unitary piece of resilient material with the hinge portion com-prising a section of the resilient material which is sufficiently thin relative to the fiber clamping portions to allow hinged move-ment of the clamping portions. When folded into a iber clamping 30 position, the structure o the clamp is such that it appears the same whether viewed from the front or the rear along the axis of the clamped fiber. This "symmetry" allows the clamp to be folded about a fiber without special orientation of the clamp relative to the fiber.
When the connector housings are engaged, their electxical contacts are interconnected. As the housings and asso-ciated connectors enter into mating engagement, the f iber recep-tacle enga~es and drives the retractable fiber piston back until it engages its associated clamp.
The second fiber end is then contacting the first fiber end within and near the center of the fi-~er guide. However, the electricaL ConnectGrS, which are 5designed to the tolerances necessary for connecting electrical conductors and/or coaxial conductors, are not completely interconnected and require additional connectional movement to insure proper interconnec-tion.
Thus, the iber ends are contacted with one another prior to the complete interconnecting or seating of the electrical connectors. Conventional optical connecting elements could prevent the addi-tional movement required to seat the connectors or 9 15if such movement occurred, the fibers could be damaged thereby~ That is, the additional connecting movement required to completely seat the electrical connectors would cause forces to be applied to the contacting optical fibers by the conventional optical 20connecting elements. However, in the present con-nector, the movemerlt and related forces are ~bsorbed by the resiliently positioned mounting blocks within the housings.
The optical fibers are cut to have slight 25excess length. The excess length of the fibers i5 taken up in drip loops developed in the fiber recep-tacle and the retractable fiber encompassing piston.
Drip loops are also formed between the fiber clamps and the cable clamps at the ends of the housings 30opposite to the mating ends as the mounting blocks are articulated away from the connectors to allow for 3~
c~m~lete seating of the connectors. The llousings include flexible fingers which engage mating snap latches so that the housings and enclosed connectors can be releasably connected together. Thus, in 5 accordance with the present invention, both elec-trical conductors and optical fibers are efficiently releasably connected in a single connector.
BRIEF D~:SCRIPTION OF THE DR.AWINGS
The invention of the present application 10 will be better understood from a review of the detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of two inter~
mateable hybrid connectors employing teachings ~f the 15 present inven ion.
FIG~ 2 is a perspective view of the hybrid connectors of FIG. 1 showing the two connector housings in an interconnected position.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through 20 one of the connectors of ~IG~ 2, taken generally along line 3 3.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the mating ends of the connectors of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a partially sectional plan-view 25 Of the connectors of FIG~ 1.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are sectional views of the upper central portion of the connectors as sho~ in FIG. 4, taken through a fiber optic connection and an electrical connection, in two stages of intermating.
FIG. 5 is a partially sectional side view of the connectors of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 6 through 9 show top, bottom and sectional views as indicated, respectively, of one of the hermaphroditic connector half shells, two of which fc-m each connector housingO
FIGS~ 10 and 11 are a top plan view and a fron^_ view respectively of the mounting block used in t~.c hy~rid connecto~s of FIG. 1.
FIG~ 12 is a perspective view of a fiber clamp used in the connectors o.f FIG. 1 in engagement 1~ with an optical fiber. The clamp is shown in more detail in FIGS. 13l 14 and 15 which show top, front and side view~ respectively of the clamp as it is formed prior to being folded into engagement w.ith a fiber as in FIG. 12~
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one optical fiber guide which may be employed in the hybrid connector of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another optical fiber guide, employing four guide rods, which 20 may be employe~ in the hybrid connector.
FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary longi-tudinal sectional view of a iber guide as in FIG.
16, with abutting fibers therein.
FIG. 19 is a fragmentary transverse sec-25tional view illustrated on an enlarged scale taken online 19-19 of FIG. 180 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLVSTRATED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the two intermateable hybrid connectors lOA, lOB also shown 30intermated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The male connector r~
lOA and the female connector lOB are similar, but ~lightly different in internal assembly, and some-times are identified generically by the number 10.
Each connector 10 comprises two connector 5half shells 12 which~ in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, are identical to ~ne another a~d fully hermaphr~ditic as will ~e de~cribed in detail herei~after with reference to ~IG5. 6 through 9. The respective connectox half shells 12 axe joine~
10together ~o form a housing 13 w:hich engages flange~
14 of one of a pair o~ intermat~eable electrical connectors 16, 18.
Each of the c~nnectors 1~, 18 may utilize electrical contacts and intermatiny designs of gen-15erally known construc~ions. For example, they mayutilize the illustrated pin and socket contacts 19, 21 (see FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B) or ribbon-type contacts, or they may include coaxial cable eontacts. Further they may be of a high density multiple conta~t 20design, such as the ribbon-type connectors illus-trated in McKee et al. ~nited States Patent No.
4,040,702 and McKee ~nited States Patent No. 4,113,179 and which are sold commercially by TRW Inc. of lk Grove Villagel Illinois under the trademarks CINCH
25RIBBON and SUPERIBBON, or the pin and socket type connectors illustrated in Arson Vnited States Patent No. 2,790~1~3 and sold by TRW Inc. under the desig-nation CINCH D-Subminiature connectors.
The ~lectrical connectors 16 and 18 and their contac~s are fully engaged with one another when the hybrid connector assemblies 10 are intermated one to another.
Each of the connectors 10 also includes
25RIBBON and SUPERIBBON, or the pin and socket type connectors illustrated in Arson Vnited States Patent No. 2,790~1~3 and sold by TRW Inc. under the desig-nation CINCH D-Subminiature connectors.
The ~lectrical connectors 16 and 18 and their contac~s are fully engaged with one another when the hybrid connector assemblies 10 are intermated one to another.
Each of the connectors 10 also includes
5 connector elements for interconnecting optical fibers. These elements include fiber clamps 20, which engage individual fibers 22 and are mounted in movable mounting blocks 24. Connector lOA further includes a fiber receptacle 26 which carries a fiber 10 guide 2B, while connector lOB includes a retractable fiber guide piston 30. An optical fiber 22A i9 held by a clamp 20 which is mounted in an aperture 32 in a mounting block 24 of connector lOA. The fiber 22A
extends beyond the clamp 20 and is encompassed by the 15 fiber recep~acle 26 which carries the ~iber guide 28.
The opposing connector lOB includes a fiber 22B which is to be ccnnected to the fiber 22A near the center of the fiber guide 28. The fiber 22B is held by a clamp 20 which is similarly mounted in an aperture 32 20 of a mounting block 24. The fiber 22B extends beyond the clamp 20 and is encompass~d by the spring-loaded retractable piston 30~ Each of the electrical connectors 16, lB is of a configuration to accom-modate relative reciprocating movement of the re-25 ceptacle 26 or piston 30, respectively, in adjacentparallel relation to the intermateable electrical contacts~
As the hybrid connectors 10 are intermated one to the other, the fiber receptacle 26 engages the 30retractable piston 30 and drives it back towards the 2ssociated clamp 20. As the piston 30 is retracted, the respective fiber 22B extends ou~ f:rom the piston 30 and into the fiber quide 28. When the piston 30 is seated against its associated clamp 20, the end of the optical fiber 22B is in light transmissive engagement, e.~., abutment contact, with the end of fiber 22A near the center of the fiber guide 2B.
Such engagement of the fibers occurs prior to the . complete seating o the mating electrical contacts of the electrical connectors 16, 18 which are subse-~uently completely seated to insure the connection of the electrical contacts of these connectors, The additional linear motion required to completely seat the electrical contacts of the con-15nectors 16 and 18 could cause damage to the fiberreceptacle 2~, the retractable piston 30 and/or the fibers 22 within these fiber connecting elements if not properly accommodated. However, flat leaf springs 34 and the movability of the mounting blocks 2024 allow adva~cement of the housings and attached electrical connectors 16, 18 relative to the mounting blocks and the associated clamps. This permits the connectors 16, 18 to become completely seated in intermating relation with one another while pro-25tecting the fiber connection and related components,In this way, the connector s 10 provide for the concurrent interconnection between electrical~and/or coaxial conductors as well as between optical fibers by the linear mating engagement of the two unified 30connector assemblies 10~
The interconnection of the optical fibers 22 is accomplished concurrently and in correlation with but independently of and in isolation from the interconnection of the electrical contacts of the 5connectors 16, 18 in ~ single unified connector asse~bly. Thus the electrical connectors 16, 18 can be manufactured in accordance with standard tech-niques and existing tolerances for electrical con-nectors, which are generally much less stringent than the techniques and tolerances for optical fiber con-nectors. However, the more stringent requirements for optical fiber connectors are obtained in the same connector assembly. Moreover all of the intercon-nections are effected by a single plug~in motion.
With further reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 6-9, the outer end walls of the half shells 12, oppo-site to the mating end walls, form cable recei~ing clamping scallops 36 which engag~ and clamp cables entering the connector housings 13 formed when two 20half shells 12 are coupled together. By clamping cables coming into the housings, such as fiber optic cables C~ and~or electrical cables Ce, mechanical strain relief is proviaed, i.e., strains are trans-ferred from the cables directly to the housing 13 25formed by the connector half shells, ~o minimize strain on the electrical or optical conductors and connections. Various clamping collars or inserts 38, see FIG. 4, may be included for the clamping of cables of different si7es and types. As noted 30further below, the opposing side walls 40 of each shell are formed with channels 42 for reciprocally mounting the bloc~s 24.
s~
Fiber cable C~l is composed of a number ~f concentric sheaths and longitudinally disposed strength members 44 which add tPnsile strength to the cable and which may romprise plastic or steel fila-5ments. The innermost concentric element of fibercable Cfl comprises an optical fibex 22A which is adapted to convey signals in the normal course of use. Of course t multiple optical ibers may be pr~vided in a single cable.
a Each iber strain relief clamp 20/ shown in more detail in FIGS. 12 through 15, is molded as a single piece of plastic material and is hingedly folded to wrap around an optical fiber 22 normal to the axis of the fiber. A clamp 20 clamps, supports 15and provides strain relief for each individual fiber 22. The lower portion of each strain relief clamp 20 comprises a cylindrical post 46 which is inserted into one of a plurality of apertures 32 in a mounting block 24, see FIGS. ~0 and 11. The post 46 extends 20noxmal to the axis of a clamped fiber and includes a beveled end portion 48. Each aperture 32 includes a beveled entrance 32A to facilitate entry of the post 46 into one of the respective apertures 32. Place~
ment of a clamp 20 into a mounting block 24 is 25 further enhanced by positioning the apertures 32 within grooves 50 formed in the top of mounting block 24. Posts 46 frictionally engage the apertures 32 to secure the clamps 20 to the mounting blocks 24.
Each clamp 20 includes a first clamping portion 52 and a second clamping por~ion 54 which are interconnected by a thinner integral hinge portion 56~ The clamping portions 52 and 54 include rounded 5 fiber clampin~ surfaces 52A and 54A as best seen in FIGSo 12 and 15. The apexes of rounded surfaces 52A
and 54A engage and clamp an optical fiber. The rounded contours present smoot.h surfaces to a fiber to avoid micro bending and the losses associated with 10 micro bending as optical fibers flex and bend durillg connector intermating.
The clamping portions 52 and 54 include cylindrical post portions 46A and 46B respectively which contact one another ~9 form the post 46 when 15 the clamp is folded upon itself about hinge axis 57.
Clamping portion 54 includes a three-quarter cylin-drical projection 58 extending from one side thereof and the clamping portio~ ~2 i.ncludes a reversed three-quarter cylindrical projection 60 extending 20 from its opposite sideD Clamp portion 5~ is provided with a channel 62 to accommodate a portion of the projection 58 when the clamp is folded as shown in FIG. 12. A similar channel 64 in the clamping portion 54 accommodates a portion of the projection Z5 60. When clamp 20 is folded into clamping config-uration as shown in FIG. 12, the projection 58 constitutes a three-quarter cylindrical section, extending from the three olclock to twelve o'clock positions, while the projection 60 constitutes a 30 three-~uarter cylindrical section, extending from the twelve o'clock to ni.ne o'clock pcsitions. A review 5~
of FIGS. 12 through 15 Teveals that cl~np 20, when fold~d, appears the same whether viewed from the front or the back. This "symmetry" facilitates fiber clamping since special orientation of the cl~np is 5unnecessary when folding a clamp about a fiber.
Cl~np 20 is hingedly folded about a fiber 22 so that the fiber is engaged by the rounded surfaces 52A and 54A of the cl~nping portions 52 and 5~ as shown in FIG. 12. Post 46 of the clamp then is lOinserted into one of the apertures 32 in a mounting block 24 to support the cl~nped fiber in a horizontal position. The fiber is supported at both sides of the clamping portions 52 and 54 by cantilevered support surfaces 58A and 60A formed by the pro~ec-15tions S8 and 60. Support surfaces 58A and 60A arerounded, as best seen in FIG. 14, to provide support-ing contact with the fiber at two predetermined points to insure that the fiber protrudes perpen-dicularly from the cl~np.. Projections 58 and 60 20include peripheral grooves 58B and 60B respectively, for spring support purposes as noted further below.
Hinge 56 includes an elongated aperture 66 which provides for convenient adjustment of the posi-tion of a fiber after it has been clamped and mounted 25 in the mounting block 24. Adjustment of the fiber may be necessary if it becomes misaligned from the horizontal aftex clamping. Adjustment is conve-niently accomplished by inserting a pointed object (not shown), such as a pin, into aperture 66 and ~Oapplying a pr~ing force to the pointed object to spread clamping portions 52 and 54 apart~ Fiber 22 can then be repositioned before allowing the clamp to - return to its clamping position.
Resilient hinge 56 also reduces the re-quired tolerances between post 46 and aperture 32, into which it is fitted, and insures a firm yet gentle clamping ~f the fiber between clamping portions 5 52 and 54. If a tight fit between a post 46 and an aperture 32 ~ccurs, hinge ~5 permits a slight opening motion of the upper portions of clamping portions 52 and 54 to maintain a firm yet gentle clamping force on the fiber. On the other hand, if the tolerances 10 of a post 46 and an aperture 32 result in a loose yet firm fit, the hinge 56 maintains approximately ~he same firm yet gentle clamping force on the iber.
The combination of a mounting block 24 and fiber clamp 20 with a fiber clamped thereinl serv~s 15 as a convenient reference for rapidly and accurately measuring and cutting the fibers for interconnection in the connector sf the present invention. The use of this clamp mounting combination also simplifies the requirements for the fiber cutting tool, the 20 assembly of the connectors and khe handling of the fibers.
After the fibers have been clamped and cut to the appropriate length relative to the front surface 24A of the respective mounting block 24, the 25 mounting block is ready for insertion into the channels 42 formed in a housing hal shell 12. Each mounting block ~4 includes a leaf spring portion 34 comprising resilient arms 34A and 34B. Each mounting block 24 and the leaf spring 34 preferably comprise 30 an integral p~astic part. The outer ends of the front surface 24A and the outer ends of the arms 34A
and 34B frictionally engage the front and rear end shoulders 42A and 42B respecti~ely of the opposed channels 42 which are formed on the inside o side walls 40 of each half shell 12. Each mounting block 5 24 is dimensioned relati~e to the length of the respective channels 42 to pe~nit the block to retract or move away from its associated electrical corlnector by compression Df the spring 34 against the rearward end shoulders 42B o the channel~. The front end 10 shoulders 42A serve as forward stops to position the block in the shell.
Referring particularly ~o FIGS. 4, 4A and 4B, a fiber receptacle 26 i5 fitted over each fiber 22A. An extension 26A of each receptacle then is 15 inserted into an aperture 6~ in the male electrical connector 16, and the combination of the mounting block, clamp, fiber, receptacle and electrical connector ~re inserted into the lower housing half shell. The aperture 68 extends through an insulator 20 body 16A of the connector 16, parallel to the con-tacts of the electrical connector, and is of a size to accommodate free reciprocating movement of the receptacle extension 26A therein.
~iber xeceptacle 26 includes fiber guide 28 25 in the extension 26A which slidably engages the aper-ture 68 o the connector 16. The fiber guide 28 can be frictionally inserted into extension 26A or may be imbedded therein during the formation of the recep-tacle. An aperture 26B formed in receptacle exten-30 sion 26A, through which the end of optical fiber 22A
is threaded to enter fiber guide 28, has an innertapered entryway 70 to acilitate insertion of the optical fiber into the aperture. The fiber recep-tacle 26 includes an annular shoulder 72 which ~engages an inner face 74 o the connector 16. The rec~ptacle extension 26A, which includes the fiber guide 28, extends beyond the outer face of connect~r 16 to serve as a male mating pin for the optical fiber.
FIG. 3 i~ a cross-sec:tion through the left half connector housing of FIG. 2 along the line 3-3.
Wire shield 76 is engaged in channels 78 fo~ned on the inside of side walls 40 of the hermaphroditic connector half shells 1~ As shown in FIG. 3, the 15thickness of edges 80 of shield 76 are double the depth dimension of channels 78 such that shield 76 is securely held within two half shells 12 when they are mated together to form a connector housing 13.
Shield 76 provides separation of electrical con-20ductors which go above the shield and optical fibersand optical fiber connecting elements which go be~eath the shiel~. The interconnection of elec-trical conductors and coaxial cables is via pin and socket connections in accordance with well known 25 techniques and will not be further described in the present application. Perspective views of the mating ends of the connectors lOA and lOB are shown in FIGS.
3A and 3B respectively. FIGS. 3A and 3B clearly show that the illustrated embodiment interconnects five 30electrical conduc~ors and two optical fibers.
The optical fiber guide 28 employed in the fiber receptacle 26 of FIGS~ 1 and 4 i5 not ~ se an inventi.ve feature of the hybrid ccnnect~r. The use Qf such optical fiber guides ~s disclosed in ~.SO
~Patent No. 4,X25,214, Optical fiber guide ;28 as is clearly seen in F~G. lB c~mprises an asse~bly of three or mor~
glass rods ~uch as r~d5 82, ~4 a~d 86 arrange~ in lOside-by ~ide relationship and paralle~ to each other.
Longitudinal peripheral p~rti~ns of adjacent rods are in contact ~nd fused together s~ as to form a cusp-shaped interstitial channel or fiber passageway 88 illustrated in ~ectional view in FIG. 19. It will be 151Joted from ~IG. 18 that the end portions ~f the rods defining ~pp~sed entranceways 90 are o~ smaller diameter than the remaining roa portions. The entranceways 90 are thus of greater cross-sectional area than the inner interstitial passageway 8B~ Such 20enlarged openings at oppose~ ends of the optical fiber guide 28 facilitate threading or entering of an optical fiber end in~o the passageway.
h~ereas FIG. 18 illustrates an optical fiber guide 28 composed o three glass rods B2, 84 2~and 86, FI~, 17 illustrates an assembly 92 of four glass rods 94 which form~ a passageway having four cusps. Also, the xods 94 thereof are formed about a uniform arc. A four rod assembly 92 provides upper and lower cusps as seen in FIG. 17 which facilitates 30alignment of fiber ends to be connec~ed within the guide~ A four-rod assembly having a bent profile as in FIG. ~8 is the preferred guide for use in the illustrated embodiment.
~ fter for~,a~ion, the fiber guide 28 may be molded .into extension 26A vf recep~acle 26 if s~
desired. The receptacle may be formed of ~ moldable plas~ic such as Nylon, ABS, Styrene, Nory ~ ~r a 5 castable plasti~ such as an epc>xy resin~ In the cour~e of such molding r care must be taken to plug oppcse~ guide entranceways 90 wit~ a r~aaily r~mov able material ~o as to in~ure t:ha~ ~o guide passage-way p~rti~n is plugged in the course of embedding guide 28 in the receptacle extension~
With particular re$erence ko FIGS~ 1 and 4s the righthand housing half shells 12 receive the female electrical connector 18, and a mountin~ block 24 i~ mounted into opposed channels 42 Df the lower 15 housing half shel~ 12. Fiber cable C~2, including strength members 96, is clamped i~ scallops of the righthand connector housing. The innermost con-centric element o~ fiber cable Cf2 comprises optical fiber 22B which is to be placed in contact with fiber 2022A. Fiber 22B is clamped by a fiber clamp 20 and the fiber clamp 20 is inserted into an aperture 32 of a mounting block 24 as previously described. After fiber 22B is clamped in the mounting block ~4, the fiber is cut to a predetermined length such that it 2~will contact fiber 22A in fiber guide 28 once the connector housings are mated together as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
After fibex 22B has been cut to length~
spring 98 is fitted over the fiber and engaged with 30groove 58B of three~quarter (3/4) cylindrical pro-jection 58 on clamp 20. The fiber encompassing ~ ~ ~S5L~
piston 30 is ne~:t fitted--over fiber 22B and spring 98. Piston 30 includes extension 30A which extends into an aperture 100 of an insulator body 18A of the connector 18 as shown in FIG5. 4, 4A and 4B. Spring 5 ~8 forces piston 30 toward the ~electrical connector 18 such that an annular shoulder 102 engages inner surface 104 of connector 18 and extension 30A extends to and is approximately 1ush with outer surface 106 of the insulator body 18A of the connector 18 as 10 shown in FIG. 4A and indicated by the d~shed line 108 in FIG. 4.
Aperture 110 of piston 30, through which the end o optical fiber 22B is threaded, has inner tapered entr~way 112 to facilitate insertion of the 15 optical fiber into the opening. Entranceway 90 to fiber guide 28 provides room in which the ~iber may bend in the course of entering the fiber guide~
The sequence of interconnection fox the connectors 10 is sh~wn in ~IGS. 4A, 4B and 4. FIGS.
20 4A and 4B are sectional views of the upper central portion of the connectors 10 of FIG. 4. In FIG. 4A, the initial state of intermating of the connectors is shown. The electrical connectors 16, 18 are aligned with one another and the electrical contacts and 2~ optical connecting elements are just touching or in initial mating contact with one another.
As the connectors 10 are mated together to interconnect the electrical connectors 16, 18, a recess 11~ in the distal end of piston 30 mates with 30the conical distal end 116 of fiber recept~cle extension ~6A which is projecting from the outer face of the electrical connector 16. As the intercon-nection of the electrical connectors 16, 18 proceeds, fiber receptacle 26 is telescopicall~ received in the 5aperture 100 of the connector :L8 and forces the spring loaded piston 30 to retract toward the respec-tive clamp 20 which spring 98 also engages Simul--taneously with the retraction ~f piston 30, optical fiber ~2B proceeds into entryway 90 of optical fiher lOguide 28, see FIG~ 18. In accordance with well known electrical connector technology, electrical pin contacts 19 of the male connector 16 concu.rrently engage and are received by electrical socket contacts - 21. of the female connector 18.
In FIG. 4B, the electrical connectors 16, 18 are almost completely enyaged with one another.
The retractable piston 30 seats upon its associated clamp 20 and the end of fiber 22B contacts the end of fiber 22A near the center of fiber guide 28 in the ~Ofiber receptacle extension 26Ao At this point, the optical fiber connection i5 complete, under ~he tolerance control of the lengths of the fibers 22A
and 22B extending fr~m the clamps 20 and the lengths of the receptacle 26 and piston 3G extending between 25the clamps.
Fibers 22A and 22B preferably will have been cut ~o provide slight excess length as pre-viously described to insure their contact within fiber guide 28. The excess fiber, as compared to the s~
-~3-dimension established by the receptacle 26 and pis~on 30, forms "drip loops" 122 within the receptacle and the piston, as shown in exagge:rated scale in FIG5. 4B
and 4.
As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the electrical connectors 16, 18 are not fully seated at this stage of interconnection. Accordingly, the integrity of the electrical connection of the contacts for elec-trical conductors ;s not yet insured. To complete 10 the connec~ion of the electrical contacts and con comitantly to complete the mechanical joining of the housings 13 of the two assemblies lOA and lOB; a slight additional closing or interconnecting motion of the connectors to their fully intermated condition 15 is re~uired. This motion is accommodated by the movability of the mounting blocks 24 permitted by the springs 34~ relati~e to the housings 13 and the attached electrical connectors 16, 18, whereby the housings and the electrical connectors may be advanced 20 to their ~ully intermated positions independently of the optical fiber connection, as shown in FIG. 4.
The springs 34 prefexably are of much greater com-pressi~e strength, i.e., much gxeater modulus of elasticity than the spring 98, whereby the piston 30 25 normal1y will seat against ~he respective clamp 20 to A llow completivn of the fiber optic connection prior to relative retractive movement of the clamps 20 and blocks 24.
-2~-Of cours2, coil sprin~s or other resilient mem~ers can be used to urge the mounting blocks toward their associa~ed connectors. The slight articulation of mounting blocXs 24 is indicated by 5gaps 124 between the end shoulders 42A of channels 42 and the front surface 24a of mounting blocks 24, which gaps are exaggerated in 1:he drawing ~or illus-tration. In this regard, the gaps remaining for full seating of the electrical connectors 16l 18 after 10completion of the optic connections also are ex-aggerated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, for purpose of illus-tration.
Fibers 22A and 22B also form drip loops 126 between mounting blocks 24 and the cable clamps at 15the ends of the housings.
In this manner, both electrical contacts and optical fibers are interconnected by th~ inter-mating of tw~ unified hybrid connect~rs of the present invention.
Each of the connector housings 13 is formed from two half shells 12 to support and retain the components of the respective assembly in their re~uired cooperative relationship to form a unitary hybrid connector~ Each housing 13 also provides the 25means to retain a connector 10 in intermated con-nection with a cooperative array of electrical contacts and optical fibers, such as in a like connector. One embodiment of the hermaphroditic connector half shells 12 is shown in FIGS. 6 through 309. The illustrated housing half shell structure .. . . . .
~25-allows an ident.ical unitary molded part to be used in place of up to four parts to form intermating con-nector nousings. Two of the housing half shells 12 are snapped together to form one connector housing 13 5 which can, in turnr be snappecl together with-a like -housing, see FIGo 2~ Each half shell 12 includes two split posts 128 positioned diag~nally opposite to one another and matching snap sockets 130 lso positioned diagonally oppos.ite to one another. Each socket 130 10 recei~es a split upper extension 132 of the respec-tive post 1~8 when two of the housing half shells 12 are interconnected face to face.
The connector half shells 12 provide a convenient structure for assembly of the various 15 optical fiber and electrical connecting parts. Once the parts are assembled on a lower hal~ shell, an upper half shell is snapped onto the lower half shell to hold the parts in place and form a connector housing 13. As described above, the resulting 20 housing clamps the cables and mounts both the elec-trical and the optical fiber connecting elements in their cooperative relationships.
~ ach connector housing 13 also has two diagonally opposite flexible fingers 134 and snap 25 latches 136 at its mating end. ~n~en two connector housings 13 are connected together, the fingers 134 engage the snap latches 136 to securely interconnect the connector housings 13 and the respective compo-nents, both electrical and optical.
5~
-~6-Cantilever disconnect arms 138 ar~ posi-tioned within slots 140 of each housing half shell 12 with the ends of arms 138 being positioned adjacent to the snap latches 136. Disconnect arms 138 are 5 positioned to permit flexible fingers 134 to engage snap latches 136 as best shown in FIG. 5. Di~connect arms 138 axe sufficiently 1exible so that they can be depressed by hand pressure to disengage flexible ingers 134 from snap~latches 136. Accordingly?~two ~ --10 connector housings 13 which have been connected together can be released from one another by applying pressure to the four disconnect arms 138, su~h as by pressure exerted by the thumbs and index fingers of both hands to both housings 13. Should a more 15 permanent interconnection be desired, a wire, screw, nut and bolt or other fastener can be inserted through apertuxes 142 of flanges 14 of electrical connectors 16 and 18 to accommodate such pe~nanent interconnection.
For ease of releasing two interlocked connector housings, it may be preferred to provide a single flexible finger and mating latch/disconnect arm at the mating end of the connector housings.
Such a simplified, single latch arrangement can be 25 attained by providing two diferent half shell designs, e.g., one with a finger similar to finger 134 centrally located on its mating end, and one with a latch similar to latch 136 centrally located ,- ~ - . .
~55'~
on its mating end. Two such half shells woul~ be snapped together to form a connector housing in the manner described above.
By joining one such half shell having a ~inger and one such half shell having a latch to form each 04nnector housing, and properly orienting the respectiv2 electrical and fibex optic connector elements therein, any such connector housing contain-ing the male connector elements may be joined with 10 any such connector housing containing the female connector elements. The fingers and latches D~ the connector housings will assure proper polarization ~ for joining the male and female connectors.
Alternatively, two identical half shells lS having such fingers thereon could be joined to one another to form one housing, and two identical ~alf shells having such latches thereon could be joined to one anothex to form another housing. Male connector elements would be placed in one housing 20 and female connector elements would be placed in ~he other. Each such connector housing thereby would be readily identified as male or female and the orientation of the connector elements in the re-spective housings would not be critical since the 25 housings would not be polarized~ However, polari-zation would be determined by other means or by the user when mating those oonnector housings.
.. .. . . . . .
.~ ?S5~
Of course, since t~o different half shell designs are required in a ~single latch, single finger arrangement, the advantages of inventory reduction, a single molding ana reduced potential for confusion 5during assembly are los~.
From the above description, it is appaxent that a unified hybrid connector for concurrently interconnecting both optical-fibers and electrical conductors and/or coaxiai cables has been achieved -=
which provides an efficient releasable connection ~ia a single assembly~ While only an i~lustrative ~- -embodiment has been set forth, alternative embodi~
ments and various modi~ications will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art.
15For example, coil springs or other resilient members could replace the leaf springs employed on the mounting blocks. Also, alternate interconnecting and interlo~king arrangements coula be provided between and among the housing half shells. Further, in view 20 of the teachinys of the above descrip~ion, it would he apparent to one skilled in the art that a converse structure having resiliently mounted electrical contacts and fixed optical connecting members could perform the same interconnecting function. Further-25more, the fiber receptacle of the male connectorcould be spring loaded relative to its fiber clamp similar to the spring loaded mounting of the piston of the female connector. These and other alterna-tives are considered equivalents and within the spirit and scope of the present inven~ion~ While the illustrative embodiment provides for the intercon-nection of two optical fibers and five electrical conductors, an~ reasonable number, combinatiGn and 5 arrangement of elec~rical and optical conductors can be accommodated within the teachings of the present invention.
.. , . , ~, . . .. . . ..
extends beyond the clamp 20 and is encompassed by the 15 fiber recep~acle 26 which carries the ~iber guide 28.
The opposing connector lOB includes a fiber 22B which is to be ccnnected to the fiber 22A near the center of the fiber guide 28. The fiber 22B is held by a clamp 20 which is similarly mounted in an aperture 32 20 of a mounting block 24. The fiber 22B extends beyond the clamp 20 and is encompass~d by the spring-loaded retractable piston 30~ Each of the electrical connectors 16, lB is of a configuration to accom-modate relative reciprocating movement of the re-25 ceptacle 26 or piston 30, respectively, in adjacentparallel relation to the intermateable electrical contacts~
As the hybrid connectors 10 are intermated one to the other, the fiber receptacle 26 engages the 30retractable piston 30 and drives it back towards the 2ssociated clamp 20. As the piston 30 is retracted, the respective fiber 22B extends ou~ f:rom the piston 30 and into the fiber quide 28. When the piston 30 is seated against its associated clamp 20, the end of the optical fiber 22B is in light transmissive engagement, e.~., abutment contact, with the end of fiber 22A near the center of the fiber guide 2B.
Such engagement of the fibers occurs prior to the . complete seating o the mating electrical contacts of the electrical connectors 16, 18 which are subse-~uently completely seated to insure the connection of the electrical contacts of these connectors, The additional linear motion required to completely seat the electrical contacts of the con-15nectors 16 and 18 could cause damage to the fiberreceptacle 2~, the retractable piston 30 and/or the fibers 22 within these fiber connecting elements if not properly accommodated. However, flat leaf springs 34 and the movability of the mounting blocks 2024 allow adva~cement of the housings and attached electrical connectors 16, 18 relative to the mounting blocks and the associated clamps. This permits the connectors 16, 18 to become completely seated in intermating relation with one another while pro-25tecting the fiber connection and related components,In this way, the connector s 10 provide for the concurrent interconnection between electrical~and/or coaxial conductors as well as between optical fibers by the linear mating engagement of the two unified 30connector assemblies 10~
The interconnection of the optical fibers 22 is accomplished concurrently and in correlation with but independently of and in isolation from the interconnection of the electrical contacts of the 5connectors 16, 18 in ~ single unified connector asse~bly. Thus the electrical connectors 16, 18 can be manufactured in accordance with standard tech-niques and existing tolerances for electrical con-nectors, which are generally much less stringent than the techniques and tolerances for optical fiber con-nectors. However, the more stringent requirements for optical fiber connectors are obtained in the same connector assembly. Moreover all of the intercon-nections are effected by a single plug~in motion.
With further reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 6-9, the outer end walls of the half shells 12, oppo-site to the mating end walls, form cable recei~ing clamping scallops 36 which engag~ and clamp cables entering the connector housings 13 formed when two 20half shells 12 are coupled together. By clamping cables coming into the housings, such as fiber optic cables C~ and~or electrical cables Ce, mechanical strain relief is proviaed, i.e., strains are trans-ferred from the cables directly to the housing 13 25formed by the connector half shells, ~o minimize strain on the electrical or optical conductors and connections. Various clamping collars or inserts 38, see FIG. 4, may be included for the clamping of cables of different si7es and types. As noted 30further below, the opposing side walls 40 of each shell are formed with channels 42 for reciprocally mounting the bloc~s 24.
s~
Fiber cable C~l is composed of a number ~f concentric sheaths and longitudinally disposed strength members 44 which add tPnsile strength to the cable and which may romprise plastic or steel fila-5ments. The innermost concentric element of fibercable Cfl comprises an optical fibex 22A which is adapted to convey signals in the normal course of use. Of course t multiple optical ibers may be pr~vided in a single cable.
a Each iber strain relief clamp 20/ shown in more detail in FIGS. 12 through 15, is molded as a single piece of plastic material and is hingedly folded to wrap around an optical fiber 22 normal to the axis of the fiber. A clamp 20 clamps, supports 15and provides strain relief for each individual fiber 22. The lower portion of each strain relief clamp 20 comprises a cylindrical post 46 which is inserted into one of a plurality of apertures 32 in a mounting block 24, see FIGS. ~0 and 11. The post 46 extends 20noxmal to the axis of a clamped fiber and includes a beveled end portion 48. Each aperture 32 includes a beveled entrance 32A to facilitate entry of the post 46 into one of the respective apertures 32. Place~
ment of a clamp 20 into a mounting block 24 is 25 further enhanced by positioning the apertures 32 within grooves 50 formed in the top of mounting block 24. Posts 46 frictionally engage the apertures 32 to secure the clamps 20 to the mounting blocks 24.
Each clamp 20 includes a first clamping portion 52 and a second clamping por~ion 54 which are interconnected by a thinner integral hinge portion 56~ The clamping portions 52 and 54 include rounded 5 fiber clampin~ surfaces 52A and 54A as best seen in FIGSo 12 and 15. The apexes of rounded surfaces 52A
and 54A engage and clamp an optical fiber. The rounded contours present smoot.h surfaces to a fiber to avoid micro bending and the losses associated with 10 micro bending as optical fibers flex and bend durillg connector intermating.
The clamping portions 52 and 54 include cylindrical post portions 46A and 46B respectively which contact one another ~9 form the post 46 when 15 the clamp is folded upon itself about hinge axis 57.
Clamping portion 54 includes a three-quarter cylin-drical projection 58 extending from one side thereof and the clamping portio~ ~2 i.ncludes a reversed three-quarter cylindrical projection 60 extending 20 from its opposite sideD Clamp portion 5~ is provided with a channel 62 to accommodate a portion of the projection 58 when the clamp is folded as shown in FIG. 12. A similar channel 64 in the clamping portion 54 accommodates a portion of the projection Z5 60. When clamp 20 is folded into clamping config-uration as shown in FIG. 12, the projection 58 constitutes a three-quarter cylindrical section, extending from the three olclock to twelve o'clock positions, while the projection 60 constitutes a 30 three-~uarter cylindrical section, extending from the twelve o'clock to ni.ne o'clock pcsitions. A review 5~
of FIGS. 12 through 15 Teveals that cl~np 20, when fold~d, appears the same whether viewed from the front or the back. This "symmetry" facilitates fiber clamping since special orientation of the cl~np is 5unnecessary when folding a clamp about a fiber.
Cl~np 20 is hingedly folded about a fiber 22 so that the fiber is engaged by the rounded surfaces 52A and 54A of the cl~nping portions 52 and 5~ as shown in FIG. 12. Post 46 of the clamp then is lOinserted into one of the apertures 32 in a mounting block 24 to support the cl~nped fiber in a horizontal position. The fiber is supported at both sides of the clamping portions 52 and 54 by cantilevered support surfaces 58A and 60A formed by the pro~ec-15tions S8 and 60. Support surfaces 58A and 60A arerounded, as best seen in FIG. 14, to provide support-ing contact with the fiber at two predetermined points to insure that the fiber protrudes perpen-dicularly from the cl~np.. Projections 58 and 60 20include peripheral grooves 58B and 60B respectively, for spring support purposes as noted further below.
Hinge 56 includes an elongated aperture 66 which provides for convenient adjustment of the posi-tion of a fiber after it has been clamped and mounted 25 in the mounting block 24. Adjustment of the fiber may be necessary if it becomes misaligned from the horizontal aftex clamping. Adjustment is conve-niently accomplished by inserting a pointed object (not shown), such as a pin, into aperture 66 and ~Oapplying a pr~ing force to the pointed object to spread clamping portions 52 and 54 apart~ Fiber 22 can then be repositioned before allowing the clamp to - return to its clamping position.
Resilient hinge 56 also reduces the re-quired tolerances between post 46 and aperture 32, into which it is fitted, and insures a firm yet gentle clamping ~f the fiber between clamping portions 5 52 and 54. If a tight fit between a post 46 and an aperture 32 ~ccurs, hinge ~5 permits a slight opening motion of the upper portions of clamping portions 52 and 54 to maintain a firm yet gentle clamping force on the fiber. On the other hand, if the tolerances 10 of a post 46 and an aperture 32 result in a loose yet firm fit, the hinge 56 maintains approximately ~he same firm yet gentle clamping force on the iber.
The combination of a mounting block 24 and fiber clamp 20 with a fiber clamped thereinl serv~s 15 as a convenient reference for rapidly and accurately measuring and cutting the fibers for interconnection in the connector sf the present invention. The use of this clamp mounting combination also simplifies the requirements for the fiber cutting tool, the 20 assembly of the connectors and khe handling of the fibers.
After the fibers have been clamped and cut to the appropriate length relative to the front surface 24A of the respective mounting block 24, the 25 mounting block is ready for insertion into the channels 42 formed in a housing hal shell 12. Each mounting block ~4 includes a leaf spring portion 34 comprising resilient arms 34A and 34B. Each mounting block 24 and the leaf spring 34 preferably comprise 30 an integral p~astic part. The outer ends of the front surface 24A and the outer ends of the arms 34A
and 34B frictionally engage the front and rear end shoulders 42A and 42B respecti~ely of the opposed channels 42 which are formed on the inside o side walls 40 of each half shell 12. Each mounting block 5 24 is dimensioned relati~e to the length of the respective channels 42 to pe~nit the block to retract or move away from its associated electrical corlnector by compression Df the spring 34 against the rearward end shoulders 42B o the channel~. The front end 10 shoulders 42A serve as forward stops to position the block in the shell.
Referring particularly ~o FIGS. 4, 4A and 4B, a fiber receptacle 26 i5 fitted over each fiber 22A. An extension 26A of each receptacle then is 15 inserted into an aperture 6~ in the male electrical connector 16, and the combination of the mounting block, clamp, fiber, receptacle and electrical connector ~re inserted into the lower housing half shell. The aperture 68 extends through an insulator 20 body 16A of the connector 16, parallel to the con-tacts of the electrical connector, and is of a size to accommodate free reciprocating movement of the receptacle extension 26A therein.
~iber xeceptacle 26 includes fiber guide 28 25 in the extension 26A which slidably engages the aper-ture 68 o the connector 16. The fiber guide 28 can be frictionally inserted into extension 26A or may be imbedded therein during the formation of the recep-tacle. An aperture 26B formed in receptacle exten-30 sion 26A, through which the end of optical fiber 22A
is threaded to enter fiber guide 28, has an innertapered entryway 70 to acilitate insertion of the optical fiber into the aperture. The fiber recep-tacle 26 includes an annular shoulder 72 which ~engages an inner face 74 o the connector 16. The rec~ptacle extension 26A, which includes the fiber guide 28, extends beyond the outer face of connect~r 16 to serve as a male mating pin for the optical fiber.
FIG. 3 i~ a cross-sec:tion through the left half connector housing of FIG. 2 along the line 3-3.
Wire shield 76 is engaged in channels 78 fo~ned on the inside of side walls 40 of the hermaphroditic connector half shells 1~ As shown in FIG. 3, the 15thickness of edges 80 of shield 76 are double the depth dimension of channels 78 such that shield 76 is securely held within two half shells 12 when they are mated together to form a connector housing 13.
Shield 76 provides separation of electrical con-20ductors which go above the shield and optical fibersand optical fiber connecting elements which go be~eath the shiel~. The interconnection of elec-trical conductors and coaxial cables is via pin and socket connections in accordance with well known 25 techniques and will not be further described in the present application. Perspective views of the mating ends of the connectors lOA and lOB are shown in FIGS.
3A and 3B respectively. FIGS. 3A and 3B clearly show that the illustrated embodiment interconnects five 30electrical conduc~ors and two optical fibers.
The optical fiber guide 28 employed in the fiber receptacle 26 of FIGS~ 1 and 4 i5 not ~ se an inventi.ve feature of the hybrid ccnnect~r. The use Qf such optical fiber guides ~s disclosed in ~.SO
~Patent No. 4,X25,214, Optical fiber guide ;28 as is clearly seen in F~G. lB c~mprises an asse~bly of three or mor~
glass rods ~uch as r~d5 82, ~4 a~d 86 arrange~ in lOside-by ~ide relationship and paralle~ to each other.
Longitudinal peripheral p~rti~ns of adjacent rods are in contact ~nd fused together s~ as to form a cusp-shaped interstitial channel or fiber passageway 88 illustrated in ~ectional view in FIG. 19. It will be 151Joted from ~IG. 18 that the end portions ~f the rods defining ~pp~sed entranceways 90 are o~ smaller diameter than the remaining roa portions. The entranceways 90 are thus of greater cross-sectional area than the inner interstitial passageway 8B~ Such 20enlarged openings at oppose~ ends of the optical fiber guide 28 facilitate threading or entering of an optical fiber end in~o the passageway.
h~ereas FIG. 18 illustrates an optical fiber guide 28 composed o three glass rods B2, 84 2~and 86, FI~, 17 illustrates an assembly 92 of four glass rods 94 which form~ a passageway having four cusps. Also, the xods 94 thereof are formed about a uniform arc. A four rod assembly 92 provides upper and lower cusps as seen in FIG. 17 which facilitates 30alignment of fiber ends to be connec~ed within the guide~ A four-rod assembly having a bent profile as in FIG. ~8 is the preferred guide for use in the illustrated embodiment.
~ fter for~,a~ion, the fiber guide 28 may be molded .into extension 26A vf recep~acle 26 if s~
desired. The receptacle may be formed of ~ moldable plas~ic such as Nylon, ABS, Styrene, Nory ~ ~r a 5 castable plasti~ such as an epc>xy resin~ In the cour~e of such molding r care must be taken to plug oppcse~ guide entranceways 90 wit~ a r~aaily r~mov able material ~o as to in~ure t:ha~ ~o guide passage-way p~rti~n is plugged in the course of embedding guide 28 in the receptacle extension~
With particular re$erence ko FIGS~ 1 and 4s the righthand housing half shells 12 receive the female electrical connector 18, and a mountin~ block 24 i~ mounted into opposed channels 42 Df the lower 15 housing half shel~ 12. Fiber cable C~2, including strength members 96, is clamped i~ scallops of the righthand connector housing. The innermost con-centric element o~ fiber cable Cf2 comprises optical fiber 22B which is to be placed in contact with fiber 2022A. Fiber 22B is clamped by a fiber clamp 20 and the fiber clamp 20 is inserted into an aperture 32 of a mounting block 24 as previously described. After fiber 22B is clamped in the mounting block ~4, the fiber is cut to a predetermined length such that it 2~will contact fiber 22A in fiber guide 28 once the connector housings are mated together as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
After fibex 22B has been cut to length~
spring 98 is fitted over the fiber and engaged with 30groove 58B of three~quarter (3/4) cylindrical pro-jection 58 on clamp 20. The fiber encompassing ~ ~ ~S5L~
piston 30 is ne~:t fitted--over fiber 22B and spring 98. Piston 30 includes extension 30A which extends into an aperture 100 of an insulator body 18A of the connector 18 as shown in FIG5. 4, 4A and 4B. Spring 5 ~8 forces piston 30 toward the ~electrical connector 18 such that an annular shoulder 102 engages inner surface 104 of connector 18 and extension 30A extends to and is approximately 1ush with outer surface 106 of the insulator body 18A of the connector 18 as 10 shown in FIG. 4A and indicated by the d~shed line 108 in FIG. 4.
Aperture 110 of piston 30, through which the end o optical fiber 22B is threaded, has inner tapered entr~way 112 to facilitate insertion of the 15 optical fiber into the opening. Entranceway 90 to fiber guide 28 provides room in which the ~iber may bend in the course of entering the fiber guide~
The sequence of interconnection fox the connectors 10 is sh~wn in ~IGS. 4A, 4B and 4. FIGS.
20 4A and 4B are sectional views of the upper central portion of the connectors 10 of FIG. 4. In FIG. 4A, the initial state of intermating of the connectors is shown. The electrical connectors 16, 18 are aligned with one another and the electrical contacts and 2~ optical connecting elements are just touching or in initial mating contact with one another.
As the connectors 10 are mated together to interconnect the electrical connectors 16, 18, a recess 11~ in the distal end of piston 30 mates with 30the conical distal end 116 of fiber recept~cle extension ~6A which is projecting from the outer face of the electrical connector 16. As the intercon-nection of the electrical connectors 16, 18 proceeds, fiber receptacle 26 is telescopicall~ received in the 5aperture 100 of the connector :L8 and forces the spring loaded piston 30 to retract toward the respec-tive clamp 20 which spring 98 also engages Simul--taneously with the retraction ~f piston 30, optical fiber ~2B proceeds into entryway 90 of optical fiher lOguide 28, see FIG~ 18. In accordance with well known electrical connector technology, electrical pin contacts 19 of the male connector 16 concu.rrently engage and are received by electrical socket contacts - 21. of the female connector 18.
In FIG. 4B, the electrical connectors 16, 18 are almost completely enyaged with one another.
The retractable piston 30 seats upon its associated clamp 20 and the end of fiber 22B contacts the end of fiber 22A near the center of fiber guide 28 in the ~Ofiber receptacle extension 26Ao At this point, the optical fiber connection i5 complete, under ~he tolerance control of the lengths of the fibers 22A
and 22B extending fr~m the clamps 20 and the lengths of the receptacle 26 and piston 3G extending between 25the clamps.
Fibers 22A and 22B preferably will have been cut ~o provide slight excess length as pre-viously described to insure their contact within fiber guide 28. The excess fiber, as compared to the s~
-~3-dimension established by the receptacle 26 and pis~on 30, forms "drip loops" 122 within the receptacle and the piston, as shown in exagge:rated scale in FIG5. 4B
and 4.
As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the electrical connectors 16, 18 are not fully seated at this stage of interconnection. Accordingly, the integrity of the electrical connection of the contacts for elec-trical conductors ;s not yet insured. To complete 10 the connec~ion of the electrical contacts and con comitantly to complete the mechanical joining of the housings 13 of the two assemblies lOA and lOB; a slight additional closing or interconnecting motion of the connectors to their fully intermated condition 15 is re~uired. This motion is accommodated by the movability of the mounting blocks 24 permitted by the springs 34~ relati~e to the housings 13 and the attached electrical connectors 16, 18, whereby the housings and the electrical connectors may be advanced 20 to their ~ully intermated positions independently of the optical fiber connection, as shown in FIG. 4.
The springs 34 prefexably are of much greater com-pressi~e strength, i.e., much gxeater modulus of elasticity than the spring 98, whereby the piston 30 25 normal1y will seat against ~he respective clamp 20 to A llow completivn of the fiber optic connection prior to relative retractive movement of the clamps 20 and blocks 24.
-2~-Of cours2, coil sprin~s or other resilient mem~ers can be used to urge the mounting blocks toward their associa~ed connectors. The slight articulation of mounting blocXs 24 is indicated by 5gaps 124 between the end shoulders 42A of channels 42 and the front surface 24a of mounting blocks 24, which gaps are exaggerated in 1:he drawing ~or illus-tration. In this regard, the gaps remaining for full seating of the electrical connectors 16l 18 after 10completion of the optic connections also are ex-aggerated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, for purpose of illus-tration.
Fibers 22A and 22B also form drip loops 126 between mounting blocks 24 and the cable clamps at 15the ends of the housings.
In this manner, both electrical contacts and optical fibers are interconnected by th~ inter-mating of tw~ unified hybrid connect~rs of the present invention.
Each of the connector housings 13 is formed from two half shells 12 to support and retain the components of the respective assembly in their re~uired cooperative relationship to form a unitary hybrid connector~ Each housing 13 also provides the 25means to retain a connector 10 in intermated con-nection with a cooperative array of electrical contacts and optical fibers, such as in a like connector. One embodiment of the hermaphroditic connector half shells 12 is shown in FIGS. 6 through 309. The illustrated housing half shell structure .. . . . .
~25-allows an ident.ical unitary molded part to be used in place of up to four parts to form intermating con-nector nousings. Two of the housing half shells 12 are snapped together to form one connector housing 13 5 which can, in turnr be snappecl together with-a like -housing, see FIGo 2~ Each half shell 12 includes two split posts 128 positioned diag~nally opposite to one another and matching snap sockets 130 lso positioned diagonally oppos.ite to one another. Each socket 130 10 recei~es a split upper extension 132 of the respec-tive post 1~8 when two of the housing half shells 12 are interconnected face to face.
The connector half shells 12 provide a convenient structure for assembly of the various 15 optical fiber and electrical connecting parts. Once the parts are assembled on a lower hal~ shell, an upper half shell is snapped onto the lower half shell to hold the parts in place and form a connector housing 13. As described above, the resulting 20 housing clamps the cables and mounts both the elec-trical and the optical fiber connecting elements in their cooperative relationships.
~ ach connector housing 13 also has two diagonally opposite flexible fingers 134 and snap 25 latches 136 at its mating end. ~n~en two connector housings 13 are connected together, the fingers 134 engage the snap latches 136 to securely interconnect the connector housings 13 and the respective compo-nents, both electrical and optical.
5~
-~6-Cantilever disconnect arms 138 ar~ posi-tioned within slots 140 of each housing half shell 12 with the ends of arms 138 being positioned adjacent to the snap latches 136. Disconnect arms 138 are 5 positioned to permit flexible fingers 134 to engage snap latches 136 as best shown in FIG. 5. Di~connect arms 138 axe sufficiently 1exible so that they can be depressed by hand pressure to disengage flexible ingers 134 from snap~latches 136. Accordingly?~two ~ --10 connector housings 13 which have been connected together can be released from one another by applying pressure to the four disconnect arms 138, su~h as by pressure exerted by the thumbs and index fingers of both hands to both housings 13. Should a more 15 permanent interconnection be desired, a wire, screw, nut and bolt or other fastener can be inserted through apertuxes 142 of flanges 14 of electrical connectors 16 and 18 to accommodate such pe~nanent interconnection.
For ease of releasing two interlocked connector housings, it may be preferred to provide a single flexible finger and mating latch/disconnect arm at the mating end of the connector housings.
Such a simplified, single latch arrangement can be 25 attained by providing two diferent half shell designs, e.g., one with a finger similar to finger 134 centrally located on its mating end, and one with a latch similar to latch 136 centrally located ,- ~ - . .
~55'~
on its mating end. Two such half shells woul~ be snapped together to form a connector housing in the manner described above.
By joining one such half shell having a ~inger and one such half shell having a latch to form each 04nnector housing, and properly orienting the respectiv2 electrical and fibex optic connector elements therein, any such connector housing contain-ing the male connector elements may be joined with 10 any such connector housing containing the female connector elements. The fingers and latches D~ the connector housings will assure proper polarization ~ for joining the male and female connectors.
Alternatively, two identical half shells lS having such fingers thereon could be joined to one another to form one housing, and two identical ~alf shells having such latches thereon could be joined to one anothex to form another housing. Male connector elements would be placed in one housing 20 and female connector elements would be placed in ~he other. Each such connector housing thereby would be readily identified as male or female and the orientation of the connector elements in the re-spective housings would not be critical since the 25 housings would not be polarized~ However, polari-zation would be determined by other means or by the user when mating those oonnector housings.
.. .. . . . . .
.~ ?S5~
Of course, since t~o different half shell designs are required in a ~single latch, single finger arrangement, the advantages of inventory reduction, a single molding ana reduced potential for confusion 5during assembly are los~.
From the above description, it is appaxent that a unified hybrid connector for concurrently interconnecting both optical-fibers and electrical conductors and/or coaxiai cables has been achieved -=
which provides an efficient releasable connection ~ia a single assembly~ While only an i~lustrative ~- -embodiment has been set forth, alternative embodi~
ments and various modi~ications will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art.
15For example, coil springs or other resilient members could replace the leaf springs employed on the mounting blocks. Also, alternate interconnecting and interlo~king arrangements coula be provided between and among the housing half shells. Further, in view 20 of the teachinys of the above descrip~ion, it would he apparent to one skilled in the art that a converse structure having resiliently mounted electrical contacts and fixed optical connecting members could perform the same interconnecting function. Further-25more, the fiber receptacle of the male connectorcould be spring loaded relative to its fiber clamp similar to the spring loaded mounting of the piston of the female connector. These and other alterna-tives are considered equivalents and within the spirit and scope of the present inven~ion~ While the illustrative embodiment provides for the intercon-nection of two optical fibers and five electrical conductors, an~ reasonable number, combinatiGn and 5 arrangement of elec~rical and optical conductors can be accommodated within the teachings of the present invention.
.. , . , ~, . . .. . . ..
Claims (14)
1. An optical fiber connector including a housing having a mating end, a mounting block in said housing movable relative to said housing toward and away from said mating end, at least one fiber clamp mounted on said block for gripping an optical fiber, and resilient means engaging said block and said housing for urging said block and fiber clamp toward said mating end and accomodating movement of said block and said fiber clamp away from said mating end against the force of said resilient means in response to an overriding opposing force.
2. An optical fiber connector as in claim 1 including fiber receiving means extending from said fiber clamp toward said mating end for receiving and transmitting said opposing force.
3. An optical fiber connector as in claim 1 or 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf spring, said leaf spring and said mounting block comprises an integral unit.
4. An optical fiber connector as in claim 1 wherein said housing defines a guideway receiving said block for movement of said block toward and away from said mating end of said housing.
5. An optical fiber connector as in claim 4 wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf spring, and said leaf spring and said mounting block comprises an integral unit received in said guideway.
6. An optical fiber connector as in claim 5 further including fiber clamp mounting means comprising an aperture in said block receiving a portion of said fiber clamp.
7. An optical fiber connector as in claim 6 wherein said aperture includes a chamfered entryway and is positioned in a tapered entrance channel whereby insertion of said portion of said fiber clamp into said aperture is facilitated.
8. An optical fiber connector as in claim 7 wherein said mounting block and leaf spring are integrally formed from a plastic material.
9. An optical fiber connector as in claim 1 including cable clamping means adjacent the other housing end for securing to said housing an optical cable entering the latter housing end, said fiber clamp being located between said clamping means and said mating end for gripping an optical fiber extending from such cable toward said mating end.
10. An optical fiber connector as in claim 9 including fiber receiving means extending from said fiber clamp toward said mating end for receiving and transmitting said opposing force.
11. An optical fiber connector as in claim 9 or 10 wherein said resilient means engages said block and said housing
12. An optical fiber connector as in claim 1 wherein said connector comprises a plurality of fiber clamps mounted on said block.
13. An optical fiber connector as in claim 4 or 11 wherein said connector comprises a plurality of fiber clamps mounted on said block.
14. An optical fiber connector as in claim 9 wherein said connector comprises a plurality of fiber clamps mounted on said block.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US27595081A | 1981-06-22 | 1981-06-22 | |
| US275,844 | 1981-06-22 | ||
| US06/275,844 US4445750A (en) | 1981-06-22 | 1981-06-22 | Articulating fiber optic connectors with resilient mounting block |
| US275,950 | 1981-06-22 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1195541A true CA1195541A (en) | 1985-10-22 |
Family
ID=26957625
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000405496A Expired CA1195541A (en) | 1981-06-22 | 1982-06-18 | Optical fiber connector and housing structure for other applications |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1195541A (en) |
-
1982
- 1982-06-18 CA CA000405496A patent/CA1195541A/en not_active Expired
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