JP2013257430A - Optical and electric composite connector connection structure and optical and electric composite connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical and electric composite connector which is easy to connect.SOLUTION: There are provided a pair of optical and electric composite connectors 11A, 11B which connect optical and electric composite cables 10, transmitting an optical signal and an electric signal, to each other. Each optical and electric composite connector includes an optical connector part 21 which transmits the optical signal and an electric connector part 22 which transmits the electric signal, and after one electric connector part 22 is guided to the other electric connector part 22, the optical connector parts 21 are joined together.

Description

  The present invention relates to a photoelectric composite connector connection structure and a photoelectric composite connector.

  An optical / electrical composite connector that simultaneously connects an optical fiber and a metal core is known. In general, optical fibers are required to have high accuracy in positioning for aligning optical axes with each other. On the other hand, the positioning accuracy of the metal wire core may be lower than that of the optical fiber. For this reason, it is difficult to directly position the optical fibers with high accuracy when the optical / electrical composite connectors are joined. In Patent Document 1, positioning is facilitated by using pins (guide pins) and pin holes (guide holes) provided in the optical connector portion.

JP 62-70805 A

  However, it is necessary to provide guide pins and guide holes in the optical connector portion, and it is difficult to form the optical connector portion large as long as the optical connector portion is a member for holding an optical fiber. Also, the entire optoelectric composite connector having an electrical connector portion larger than the optical connector portion is larger than the guide pins. For this reason, when aligning a large photoelectric composite connector with respect to the guide pin by the guide pin and the guide hole, even if the position of the photoelectric composite cable is slightly different, the guide pin cannot be inserted into the guide hole. Connection work is difficult.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectric composite connector connection structure and a photoelectric composite connector that are easy to connect.

The photoelectric composite connector connection structure of the present invention that can solve the above-mentioned problems is
An optical / electrical composite connector connection structure in which an optical fiber that transmits an optical signal and an optical / electrical composite cable in which an electric wire that transmits an electrical signal is housed in an outer sheath are connected,
The photoelectric composite connector connection structure includes a first photoelectric composite connector and a second photoelectric composite connector,
The optical connector portion of the first photoelectric composite connector and the optical connector portion of the second photoelectric composite connector are guided by an optical connector guide member, and the optical fiber of the first photoelectric composite connector Connecting the optical fiber of the second photoelectric composite connector in a connecting direction;
The electrical connector portion of the first photoelectric composite connector and the electrical connector portion of the second photoelectric composite connector are guided by an electrical connector guide member, and the electric wire of the first photoelectric composite connector and the electrical connector portion Connecting the electric wire of the second photoelectric composite connector in the connecting direction;
After the electrical connector parts are guided by the electrical connector guide member, the optical connector parts are guided by the optical connector guide member.

In the photoelectric composite connector connection structure of the present invention,
The electrical connector guide member is a male terminal protruding in a connection direction constituting a part of the electrical connector portion, and a female terminal having a shape corresponding to the male terminal,
The male terminal may protrude from the optical connector guide member toward the connection direction end.

In the photoelectric composite connector connection structure of the present invention,
The male terminal of the second photoelectric composite connector or the first photoelectric composite connector is guided to the distal end side of the female terminal of the first photoelectric composite connector or the second photoelectric composite connector. A taper portion may be provided.

In the photoelectric composite connector connection structure of the present invention,
The optical connector guide member is a guide piece protruding in the connection direction from the connection side end face of the optical connector portion,
The male terminal may protrude toward the end in the connection direction from the guide piece.

In the photoelectric composite connector connection structure of the present invention,
Each of the electrical connector portions of the first photoelectric composite connector and the second photoelectric composite connector has at least one set of the female terminal and the male terminal,
In the plane perpendicular to the connection direction, the female terminal and the male terminal may be arranged at positions that are point-symmetric with respect to the optical connector portion.

The optoelectric composite connector of the present invention capable of solving the above problems is
An optical / electrical composite connector to be attached to an optical / electrical composite cable terminal in which an optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal and an electric wire for transmitting an electrical signal are accommodated in a jacket,
An optical connector that is guided by an optical fiber guide member and connects the optical fiber to an optical fiber of a connection partner;
Having an electrical connector part for connecting the electric wire to a connection partner electric wire,
The electrical connector part has a male terminal protruding to the connection partner side,
The male terminal protrudes closer to the connection partner side than the optical fiber guide member.

In the photoelectric composite connector of the present invention,
The electrical connector part has at least one male terminal and the same number of female terminals as the male terminal in a shape corresponding to the male terminal,
In the plane perpendicular to the connection direction, the male terminal and the female terminal may be arranged at positions that are point-symmetric with respect to the optical connector portion.

In the photoelectric composite connector of the present invention,
A connector shell for supporting the optical connector portion and the electrical connector portion;
The connector shell may position the optical connector portion and the electrical connector portion at a predetermined position at least in a plane orthogonal to the connection direction.

  According to the optoelectric composite connector connection structure and the optoelectric composite connector of the present invention, after the electrical connector portions are guided by the electrical connector guide member, the optical connector portions are guided by the optical connector guide member. In other words, the optical connector part is positioned by the optical connector guide member that requires more precise positioning after the coarse alignment is first performed using a thicker electrical connector guide member such as an optical fiber that transmits an optical signal. I do. Therefore, it is easy to align optical fibers that require high positioning accuracy, and it is possible to provide an optoelectric composite connector that is easy to connect.

It is sectional drawing of the connection structure of the photoelectric composite connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of a connector shell. It is a disassembled perspective view of a connector shell. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection process of a photoelectric composite connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection process of a photoelectric composite connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection process of a photoelectric composite connector.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a photoelectric composite connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure for an optoelectric composite connector according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the photoelectric composite connectors 11 </ b> A and 11 </ b> B (first photoelectric composite connector, second photoelectric composite connector) according to the present embodiment include an electric wire 13 and an optical fiber 12 in an outer sheath 14. It is a pair of connectors attached to the terminal of the accommodated photoelectric composite cable 10. And the optoelectric composite cable 10 which transmits an optical signal and an electric signal is mutually connected by being joined mutually. The photoelectric composite connector 11 </ b> A includes a housing 41 and a connector shell 31. Similarly, the photoelectric composite connector 11 </ b> B includes a housing 51 and a connector shell 31.

  The optoelectric composite cable 10 includes a plurality of optical fibers 12 and a plurality of electric wires 13. The periphery of the optical fiber 12 and the electric wire 13 is covered with a jacket 14. In the optical / electrical composite cable 10, the optical fiber 12 and the electric wire 13 are exposed from the jacket 14 at the terminal. The optical fiber 12 and the electric wire 13 are pulled out into the housings 41 and 51 of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B, respectively, and are connected to the optical connector portion 21 and the electrical connector portion 22, respectively.

  The optical fiber 12 is obtained by coating a glass fiber composed of a core and a clad with a jacket. As the optical fiber 12, an optical fiber (All Grass Fiber: AGF) having a glass clad having a relatively small refractive index with respect to the core, or a clad portion formed of a high-hardness plastic and being strongly broken at a bend (kink). Hard plastic clad fiber (H-PCF) which is difficult to use may be used. For example, the electric wire 13 is formed by covering a conductor obtained by twisting a plurality of strands made of an annealed copper wire or a copper alloy wire plated with tin with an outer sheath.

  The housing 41 of the photoelectric composite connector 11A is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a jacket fixing portion 40 is formed on the rear end side. An end portion of the photoelectric composite cable 10 is inserted into the jacket fixing portion 40, and the jacket 14 is crimped and fixed to the jacket fixing portion 40.

  A connector shell 31 is fitted on the front end side of the housing 41. The connector shell 31 is fixed to the housing 41 in a state where the end portion on the connection side of the connector shell 31 protrudes from the tip 411 of the housing 41. A protrusion 41 a that supports the connector shell 31 fitted from the front end side is formed at the rear end portion of the inner peripheral wall of the cylindrical housing 41. The connector shell 31 is fitted into the housing 41 from the front end side, and is fixed to the housing 41 with an adhesive or the like. Similarly, in the housing 51, the connector shell 31 is fitted from the front end side, and the connector shell 31 is supported by the protrusion 51a and fixed inside the housing 51 by an adhesive. Accordingly, the connector shell 31 is fixed inside the housings 41 and 51 so as not to move at least in the direction D1 for connecting the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B.

  In the housing 41, a space S <b> 1 is formed between the jacket fixing portion 40 and the rear end side of the connector shell 31. Thereby, at least one of the electric wire 13 and the optical fiber 12 can be accommodated in the housing 41 in a bent state. For this reason, since the electric wire 12 and the optical fiber 13 can be accommodated in the housing 41 with some extra length, the electric wires 12 and the optical fiber 13 and the housing 41 can be expanded and contracted due to environmental temperature fluctuations. Even when a change occurs in the relative position, it can be absorbed in the extra length portion, and deterioration of communication quality can be prevented.

  The housing 41 is provided with a connection ring 42 on the outer periphery on the tip side. The coupling ring 42 is a member that is held in a connected state of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B. The connection ring 42 is movable along the axial direction (direction in which the photoelectric composite connector is connected) D1 to a holding position on the connection side in the housing 41 and a non-holding position on the opposite side to the connection side in the housing 41. Yes.

  The connecting ring 42 is formed with a female threaded portion 43 on the inner peripheral portion on the distal end side. A locking portion 44 is formed at the rear end of the connecting ring 42 so as to protrude toward the inner peripheral side. A stopper 45 is formed at the front end 411 of the housing 41 so as to protrude toward the outer peripheral side. Thereby, when the connection ring 42 is moved to the front end side with respect to the housing 41, the movement of the connection ring 42 to the front end side is restricted by the locking portion 44 being locked to the stopper 45.

  The housing 51 of the photoelectric composite connector 11B is formed in a cylindrical shape. A jacket fixing part 50 is formed on the rear end side of the housing 51. The end portion of the photoelectric composite cable 10 is inserted into the jacket fixing portion 50. The photoelectric composite cable 10 is fixed by being crimped to a jacket fixing portion 50 of the housing 51.

  A connector shell 31 is fitted on the front end side of the housing 51. The connector shell 31 is fixed to the housing 51 in a state in which the end portion on the connection side of the connector shell 31 protrudes from the tip 511 of the housing 51.

  A male screw portion 53 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the housing 41 on the front end side. The male thread portion 53 can be screwed into the female thread portion 43 of the connecting ring 42. By screwing the female screw portion 43 of the connecting ring 42 of the housing 41 into the male screw portion 53 of the housing 51, the housings 41 and 51 of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B are held in a mutually joined state.

  In the housing 51, a space S <b> 2 is formed between the jacket fixing part 50 and the rear end side of the connector shell 31. Thereby, at least one of the electric wire 13 and the optical fiber 12 can be accommodated in the housing 51 in a bent state. For this reason, since the electric wire 12 and the optical fiber 13 can be accommodated in the housing 51 with some extra length, the electric wires 12, the optical fiber 13, and the housing 51 can be expanded and contracted due to environmental temperature fluctuations. Even when a change occurs in the relative position, it can be absorbed in the extra length portion, and deterioration of communication quality can be prevented.

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the connector shell 31, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shell 31. As shown in FIG. 2, an optical connector portion 21 that transmits an optical signal and an electrical connector portion 22 that transmits an electrical signal are fixed to the connector shell 31.

  The optical connector portion 21 includes an optical connector 25 into which the optical fiber 12 is inserted. The optical fiber 12 is fixed to the optical connector 25 so that the end surface of the optical fiber 12 faces the front end surface 25 c of the optical connector 25. The optical fibers 12 are optically connected to each other by the end surfaces 25c of the optical connectors 25 being abutted with each other at the optical connector portion 21 of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of optical fibers 12 are arranged in a line on the distal end surface 25 c of the optical connector 25. In addition, guide holes 25 a are formed on both sides of the optical fiber 12 on the distal end surface 25 c of the optical connector 25. In the optical connector 25 of the photoelectric composite connector 11B, guide pins (optical connector guide members, guide pieces) 26 are inserted into the guide holes 25a (see FIG. 2), and the optical connectors 25 are brought into contact with each other. The guide pins 26 are inserted into the guide holes 25a of the optical connector 25 of the photoelectric composite connector 11A, so that the optical connectors 25 are aligned with each other. Further, on the rear side of the optical connector 25, a protruding portion 25b protruding in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 12 is formed. That is, the optical / electrical connectors 11A and 11B are optically connected to each other in the connection direction D1 when the optical connector portions 21 and 21 are guided by the guide pins 26.

  Each of the electrical connector portions 22 of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B has at least one pair of female terminals 27A and a male terminal 27B having a shape corresponding to the female terminals 27A. In this example, three sets of female terminals 27A and male terminals 27B are provided. Specifically, three female terminals 27A and three male terminals 27B are provided on one photoelectric composite connector 11A, and the female terminals of one photoelectric composite connector 11A are provided on the other photoelectric composite connector 11B. Three male terminals 27B and three female terminals 27A corresponding to 27A and male terminals 27B are provided. Thus, the optoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B are electrically connected to each other in the connecting direction D1 by the mutual electrical connector portions 22 and 22 being guided by the female terminal 27A and the male terminal 27B. Is done. The female terminal 27A and the male terminal 27B are disposed at positions that are point-symmetric with respect to the optical connector portion 21 in a plane perpendicular to the connection direction of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B.

  An electric wire 13 is connected to each of the female terminal 27A and the male terminal 27B. In the electrical connector part 22, the electric wires 13 are electrically connected by inserting the male terminal 27B into the female terminal 27A. These female terminals 27A and male terminals 27B have large diameter portions 28A and 28B formed in a large diameter at the intermediate portion thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector shell 31 is preferably divided into a front shell 61 and a rear shell 71. The rear shell 71 has a function of fixing the optical connector part 21 so as not to move in at least the direction D1 for connecting the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B. The front shell 61 has a function of positioning the optical connector portion 21 at a predetermined position in an in-plane D2 perpendicular to the direction in which at least the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B are connected.

  The front shell 61 has an optical connector positioning hole 64 into which the distal end side of the optical connector 25 is inserted. By inserting the optical connector 25 into the optical connector positioning hole 64, the optical connector 25 is accurately positioned at a predetermined position in the connection side end face D2 of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B. A step portion 65 is formed on the rear end side of the optical connector positioning hole 64, and the protruding portion 25 b of the optical connector 25 contacts the step portion 65. The position of the in-plane D2 orthogonal to the connection direction D1 of the optical connector 25 is determined by the position where the optical connector positioning hole 64 is formed. Further, the step portion 65 defines a position along the connection direction D1 of the optical connector 25.

  The front shell 61 is formed with a female terminal positioning hole 66A into which the distal end side of the female terminal 27A is inserted. By inserting the female terminal 27A into the female terminal positioning hole 66A, the female terminal 27A is positioned at a predetermined position on the connection side end face D2 of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B. A step portion 67A is formed in the female terminal positioning hole 66A, and the large-diameter portion 28A of the female terminal 27A abuts on the step portion 67A. In addition, the female terminal positioning hole 66A is formed with a tapered portion 29 that gradually narrows toward the female terminal 27A on the distal end side of the female terminal 27A. The position of the in-plane D2 orthogonal to the connection direction D1 of the female terminal 27A is determined by the position where the female terminal positioning hole 66A is formed. Further, the position along the connection direction D1 of the female terminal 27A is also defined by the stepped portion 67A.

  Further, the front shell 61 is formed with a male terminal positioning hole 66B into which the distal end side of the male terminal 27B is inserted. By inserting the male terminal 27B into the male terminal positioning hole 66B, the male terminal 27B is positioned at a predetermined position in the connection side end face of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B. A step portion 67B is formed in the male terminal positioning hole 66B, and the large-diameter portion 28B of the male terminal 27B abuts on the step portion 67B. The position in the plane orthogonal to the connecting direction of the male terminal 27B is determined by the position where the male terminal positioning hole 66B is formed. Further, the position along the connecting direction of the male terminal 27B is determined by the stepped portion 67B.

  Behind the front shell 61, a pair of engagement pieces 68 are provided on both sides of the optical fiber 12 so as to extend rearward along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 12. A claw portion 69 protruding outward is formed at the rear end portion of the engagement piece 68.

  An optical connector holding portion 73 that holds the optical connector 25 with the front shell 61 is formed on the front end surface of the rear shell 71. The optical connector holding portion 73 is formed to be slightly larger than the size of the rear end of the optical connector 25, and the optical connector holding portion 73 holds the optical connector 25 with a slight gap. The optical connector holding portion 73 is provided with an optical fiber insertion hole 74 having a smaller hole than the optical connector 25. The optical fiber 12 is inserted into the optical fiber insertion hole 74. As a result, the optical connector holding portion 73 of the rear shell 71 holds the optical connector 25 with the optical fiber 12 extending rearward.

  Further, a female terminal holding portion 76 </ b> C that holds the female terminal 27 </ b> A with the front shell 61 is formed on the front end surface of the rear shell 71. The female terminal holding portion 76C has a female terminal holding hole 76A into which the rear end side of the female terminal 27A is inserted. The female terminal 27A is held with a slight gap in the female terminal holding hole 76A. Further, the electric wire 13 connected to the female terminal 27A is drawn from the rear shell 71 through the female terminal holding hole 76A. A stepped portion 77A is formed in the female terminal holding hole 76A. The female terminal 27A is restricted from moving toward the rear end side in the connection direction D1 by the large diameter portion 28A being in contact with the stepped portion 77A.

  Furthermore, a male terminal holding portion 76 </ b> D that holds the male terminal 27 </ b> B with the front shell 61 is formed on the distal end surface of the rear shell 71. A male terminal holding hole 76B into which the rear end side of the male terminal 27B is inserted is formed in the male terminal holding portion 76D. The male terminal 27B is held with a slight gap in the male terminal holding hole 76B. Further, the electric wire 13 connected to the male terminal 27B is drawn out from the rear shell 71 through the male terminal holding hole 76B. A step 77B is formed in the male terminal holding hole 76B. The male terminal 27B is restricted from moving to the rear end side in the connection direction D1 by the large diameter portion 28B being locked to the stepped portion 77B.

  Engagement holes 78 extending toward the rear end are formed on both sides of the optical fiber insertion hole 74 on the end surface of the rear shell 71 on the front shell 61 side. Further, openings 79 communicating with the engagement holes 78 are formed on both side surfaces of the rear shell 71.

  The photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B including the connector shell 31 having the above-described configuration are assembled as follows. The electric wire 13 and the optical fiber 12 of the photoelectric composite cable 10 are connected to the electrical connector portion 22 and the optical connector portion 21, respectively, and these are fixed to the connector shell 31 according to the following process, and the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B are connected. The housings 41 and 51 are fixed.

  First, the optical connector 25, the female terminal 27A, and the male terminal 27B are inserted into the optical connector holding portion 73, the female terminal holding hole 76A, and the male terminal holding hole 76B of the rear shell 71, respectively. At this time, the optical connector holding portion 73, the female terminal holding hole 76A, and the male terminal holding hole 76B hold the optical connector 25, the female terminal 27A, and the male terminal 27B in a loosely positioned state with a gap. .

  Next, the engagement piece 68 of the front shell 61 is inserted into the engagement hole 78 of the rear shell 71 to bring the front shell 61 and the rear shell 71 close to each other. Then, the claw portion 69 of the engagement piece 68 engages with the opening 79 of the engagement hole 78, and the front shell 61 and the rear shell 71 are joined together and integrated as the connector shell 31.

Thereby, the optical connector 25, the female terminal 27A, and the male terminal 27B are sandwiched between the front shell 61 and the rear shell 71. At this time, the optical connector positioning hole 64, the female terminal positioning hole 66A, and the male terminal positioning hole 66B of the front shell 61 are respectively predetermined in the in-plane direction perpendicular to the connection direction of the optical connector 25, the female terminal 27A, and the male terminal 27B. Position with high accuracy.
Further, the optical connector 25 is sandwiched between the step portion 65 of the front shell 61 and the optical connector holding portion 73 of the rear shell 71, so that the front end surface of the optical connector 25 slightly protrudes from the front end surface of the front shell 61. Fixed.

  Further, the female terminal 27A is sandwiched between the stepped portion 67A of the front shell 61 and the stepped portion 77A of the rear shell 71, so that the tip thereof is positioned at a position where the tip is slightly drawn from the tip surface of the front shell 61. . The male terminal 27B is sandwiched between the stepped portion 67B of the front shell 61 and the stepped portion 77B of the rear shell 71, so that the tip protrudes from the tip of the guide pin 26 of the optical connector 25 to the connection partner side. Thus, the connector shell 31 is fixed.

  Thereafter, the outer cover 14 is fixed to the outer cover fixing portions 40 and 50 of the housings 41 and 51. At this time, the wire 12 and the optical fiber 13 at the end of the photoelectric composite cable 10 are fixed to the connector shell 31, and are formed between the jacket fixing portions 40 and 50 and the rear end side of the connector shell 31. It is preferable to form predetermined bends in the electric wires 12 and the optical fibers 13 in the spaces S1 and S2. Then, after adjusting to a predetermined deflection amount, the outer cover 14 is crimped and fixed to the outer cover fixing portions 40 and 50. Thereby, the electric wire 12 and the optical fiber 13 can be accommodated in the housings 41 and 51 with an extra length to some extent.

  Next, a case where the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B having the above-described configuration are connected to each other will be described. 4 to 6 are cross-sectional views showing the connection process of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B according to the embodiment.

  First, the user grasps the outer periphery of the housings 41 and 51 of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B, and matches the postures in the circumferential direction while looking at the connection side end portions of the optical connector portions 21. The connection sides of the composite connectors 11A and 11B are placed close to each other so as to be close to each other.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, first, the male terminal 27B is guided by the tapered portion 29 of the female terminal 27A, and then the male terminal 27B comes into contact with the female terminal 27A. Thereby, the electrical connector parts 22 are aligned. At this time, the guide pin 26 of the optical connector 25 of the photoelectric composite connector 11B is separated from the optical connector 25 of the photoelectric composite connector 11A.

  Subsequently, the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B are brought close to each other, and as shown in FIG. 5, the guide pin 26 of the optical connector 25 of the photoelectric composite connector 11B is inserted into the guide hole 25a of the optical connector 25 of the photoelectric composite connector 11A. Further, the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B are brought close to each other. As a result, the female terminal 27A and the male terminal 27B are electrically connected to each other, the electric wire 13 is electrically connected, the end faces of the optical connector 25 are abutted, and the optical fibers 12 are optically connected.

Next, the connecting ring 42 of the housing 41 of the photoelectric composite connector 11A is slid from the non-holding position toward the holding position on the photoelectric composite connector 11B side, and the female screw portion 43 of the connecting ring 42 is further moved to the male screw portion 53 of the housing 51. Screw in.
Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the locking portion 44 of the connection ring 42 is locked to the stopper 45 of the housing 41, and the movement of the connection ring 42 toward the tip side is restricted. That is, the end face 25c of the optical connector 25 of the optical / electrical connector 11A faces the connecting optical / electrical connector 11B side due to the engagement of the female screw 43 and the male screw 53 and the locking of the locking portion 44 and the stopper 45. In the pressed state, the connection state between the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B is maintained. Thereby, each connection state of the optical connector parts 21 and the electrical connector parts 22 is stably maintained.

  According to such a connection structure of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B, the electrical connector portions 22 and 22 are guided by using the female terminal 27A and the male terminal 27B, which are electrical connector guide members, and the electric wires 13 and 22 can be easily guided. 13 are electrically connected. After this, the optical connector parts 21 and 21 are guided by the guide pins 26 that are smaller than the female terminal 27A and the male terminal 27B, which require more precise alignment, and the optical fibers 12 and 12 are optically connected to each other. Do. That is, the optical fibers 12 and 12 can be easily optically connected to each other by precisely aligning them using the guide pins 26 after roughly aligning them using the electrical connector guide members 27A and 27B.

  Generally, the guide pin 26 that assists the connection of the optical fiber 12 is considerably smaller than the electrical connector portion 22 and the housings 41 and 51. For this reason, if the guide pin 26 is to be inserted into the guide hole 25a from the beginning while holding the housings 41 and 51 larger than the guide pin 26, the guide pin 26 is moved only slightly when the direction of the housings 41 and 51 is slightly shifted. 25a cannot be inserted into the guide hole, and optical connection between the optical fibers 12 is difficult.

  Therefore, in the connection structure using the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B according to this embodiment, the electrical connector portions 22 that are larger than the guide pins 26 and easy to align are connected to each other, and then the guide pins 26 are inserted into the guide holes 25a. Then, the optical fibers 12 are joined together. In other words, after the electrical connector portions 22 are connected to each other and the relative positions of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B are adjusted with a certain degree of accuracy, the relative positions of the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B are finely adjusted to achieve high positioning. The optical fibers 12 that require accuracy are aligned with each other. For this reason, it is easy to align the optical fibers 12, and it is possible to provide the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B that can be easily connected.

  Moreover, since the front end surface 25c of the optical connector 25 protrudes from the connector shell 31, the optical / electrical connectors 11A and 11B are connected to each other while visually confirming the joining state between the optical connectors 25 by visually observing the joining portion. can do. Therefore, it is possible to provide the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B that can be reliably optically connected.

  Further, by projecting the male terminal 27B of the electrical connector portion 22 from the guide pin 26 of the optical connector portion 21, the male terminal 27B of one electrical connector portion 22 is a female of the other electrical connector portion 22 with a simple configuration. After being guided by the terminal 27A, the optical connectors 25 of the optical connector portion 21 can be joined.

  In addition, since the tapered portion 29 that guides the male terminal 27B is provided on the distal end side of the female terminal 27A, the male terminal 27B can be easily attached to the female terminal 27A using the tapered portion 29 when the electrical connector portion 22 is joined. Can be joined.

  Further, the optical and electrical connectors 11A and 11B are required to have high positional accuracy in the optical connector portion 21 at the end face on the connection side. For this reason, in this embodiment, the connector shell 31 that fixes the optical connector portion 21 is held between the front shell 61 that positions the optical connector portion 21 at a predetermined position and the optical connector portion 21 between the front shell 61 and the rear shell 61. It is divided into a side shell 71. Then, the position of the optical connector portion 21 is strictly adjusted by the front shell 61. Thereby, since only the front shell 61 needs to be manufactured with high dimensional accuracy, the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B can be provided at low cost.

  Further, after the optical connector portion 21 and the electrical connector portion 22 are roughly aligned with the rear shell 71, the optical connector portion 21 and the electrical connector portion 22 are simply integrated with the rear shell 71. Easy alignment with high accuracy. Furthermore, since the optical connector portion 21 and the plurality of electrical connector portions 22 are collectively positioned by the front shell 61, the mutual positions of the optical connector portion 21 and the electrical connector portion 22 can be determined with high accuracy.

  The electrical connector section 22 has at least one pair of female terminals 27A and male terminals 27B, and the female terminals 27A and male terminals 27B are in a point-symmetrical position with respect to the optical connector section 21 in a plane perpendicular to the connection direction. Has been placed. For this reason, when connecting the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B, there is no possibility that the female terminal 27A and the female terminal 27A are connected in the wrong direction so as to be connected. Further, the shapes of the front shells 61 of the connector shell 31 constituting the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B can be made the same shape, and the photoelectric composite connectors 11A and 11B can be provided at low cost.

10: opto-electric composite cable, 11A, 11B: opto-electric composite connector, 21: optical connector part 21: electrical connector part, 25: optical connector, 26: guide pin (guide piece), 27B: male terminal, 27A: female terminal , 29: taper part, 31: connector shell, 61: front shell, 71: rear shell

Claims (8)

An optical / electrical composite connector connection structure in which an optical fiber that transmits an optical signal and an optical / electrical composite cable in which an electric wire that transmits an electrical signal is housed in an outer sheath are connected,
The photoelectric composite connector connection structure includes a first photoelectric composite connector and a second photoelectric composite connector,
The optical connector portion of the first photoelectric composite connector and the optical connector portion of the second photoelectric composite connector are guided by an optical connector guide member, and the optical fiber of the first photoelectric composite connector Connecting the optical fiber of the second photoelectric composite connector in a connecting direction;
The electrical connector portion of the first photoelectric composite connector and the electrical connector portion of the second photoelectric composite connector are guided by an electrical connector guide member, and the electric wire of the first photoelectric composite connector and the electrical connector portion Connecting the electric wire of the second photoelectric composite connector in the connecting direction;
The optical / electrical connector connecting structure, wherein the optical connector portions are guided by the optical connector guide member after the electrical connector portions are guided by the electrical connector guide member. The electrical connector guide member is a male terminal protruding in a connection direction constituting a part of the electrical connector portion, and a female terminal having a shape corresponding to the male terminal,
The optoelectric composite connector connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the male terminal protrudes toward the end in the connection direction from the optical connector guide member.   The male terminal of the second photoelectric composite connector or the first photoelectric composite connector is guided to the distal end side of the female terminal of the first photoelectric composite connector or the second photoelectric composite connector. 3. The photoelectric composite connector connection structure according to claim 2, wherein a taper portion is provided. The optical connector guide member is a guide piece protruding in the connection direction from the connection side end face of the optical connector portion,
4. The photoelectric composite connector connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the male terminal protrudes closer to the connection direction end than the guide piece. 5. Each of the electrical connector portions of the first photoelectric composite connector and the second photoelectric composite connector has at least one set of the female terminal and the male terminal,
The said female terminal and the said male terminal are arrange | positioned in the position which becomes point-symmetrical with respect to the said optical connector part in the surface perpendicular | vertical to a connection direction, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The optoelectric composite connector connection structure described. An optical / electrical composite connector to be attached to an optical / electrical composite cable terminal in which an optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal and an electric wire for transmitting an electrical signal are accommodated in a jacket,
An optical connector that is guided by an optical fiber guide member and connects the optical fiber to an optical fiber of a connection partner;
Having an electrical connector part for connecting the electric wire to a connection partner electric wire,
The electrical connector part has a male terminal protruding to the connection partner side,
The male-electric connector is characterized in that the male terminal protrudes closer to the connection partner side than the optical fiber guide member. The electrical connector part has at least one male terminal and the same number of female terminals as the male terminal in a shape corresponding to the male terminal,
The optoelectric composite connector according to claim 6, wherein the male terminal and the female terminal are arranged in a point-symmetrical position with respect to the optical connector portion in a plane perpendicular to the connection direction. . A connector shell for supporting the optical connector portion and the electrical connector portion;
The optoelectric composite connector according to claim 6, wherein the connector shell positions the optical connector portion and the electrical connector portion at a predetermined position at least in a plane orthogonal to the connection direction.

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