JP5782156B2 - Optical connection structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connection structure.

  Conventionally, for example, in order to take in commercial power, a plug having two electrodes at one end of a power cord or three electrodes including a ground electrode is provided, and the power supply line from the switchboard and the power source of the power cord are inserted into the outlet. It is designed to connect the line. The other end of such a power cord is connected to, for example, a power source section of a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) to constitute a power supply system to the personal computer.

Recently, there are many examples where a local area network (LAN) is formed by a plurality of personal computers and printers (hereinafter represented by personal computers for the sake of simplicity) to enable mutual data exchange. However, optical fibers are becoming widespread as LAN signal lines.
In this case, since a personal computer as a terminal forming a LAN naturally requires power supply and optical fiber connection, the personal computer connects the power supply unit and the outlet with the power cord described above, and the optical terminal and the LAN. The HUBs (hubs) are connected with an optical cable.

That is, at least the power cord and the optical cable extend from the personal computer, and the wiring is congested.
Therefore, as a countermeasure against wiring congestion, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-266665 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-318286 propose a composite cable in which a power cord and an optical cable are integrated.
That is, in these composite cables, the power supply line and the optical fiber are embedded in a common sheath, and the whole is made into one cable.
JP 2001-266665 A JP 2001-318286 A

According to the composite cable in which the power cord and the optical cable proposed in the above document are integrated, there is an advantage that the number of wires on the way is reduced and simplified.
However, in any of the documents, the examination object is limited to the cross-sectional structure of the cable, and how to connect and use is not clarified.
Therefore, in the terminal of the composite cable, the connection between the power line forming the power cord and the outlet and the connection between the optical fiber and the HUB must be individually performed. As a result, there is still a problem that the wiring around the connection portion is still left in the same congestion state as before even though the route is simplified.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connection structure that allows a terminal connection of a composite cable to be simply operated.

The optical connection structure of the present invention supports the optical fiber (20 ′), and the bottom wall of the ferrule (90 ′) that extends into the ferrule hole (56) of the optical receptacle part (50) of the other party extends outwardly. A convex electrode (70) having (72), and the ferrule (90 ′) when the convex electrode (70) is connected to a current-carrying part (47) on the other side of the ferrule hole (56). There the ferrule hole (56) the optical fiber enters the (20 ') is characterized to have access to the optical connection means to be connected to the optical transmission line of counterparty (20).

According to the present invention, since the space including the central axis is defined by being surrounded by the block, it is possible to easily form a composite cable by arranging an optical fiber in this space.
In this case, since the optical fiber can escape in a wide space, an excessive external force is not exerted, and a so-called cushion function is provided, and the optical fiber can be protected.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment applied to connection between a switchboard and a personal computer.
A power supply line 18 and a ground line 19 extend from the switchboard 10 to an outlet 30 as a female connector attached to a wall surface in the room. The switchboard 10 is connected to the commercial power line 12.
The switchboard 10 is provided with a HUB 14 for forming a LAN, and an optical fiber 20 extends from the HUB 14 to an outlet 30.
Between the switchboard 10 and the outlet 30, a composite cable 16 in which an optical fiber is composited with a VVF (vinyl insulated vinyl sheath flat cable) is used.

The outlet 30 houses two power electrodes 40 and a ground electrode 45 in a casing 31 formed by a front plate 32 and a frame 36 coupled to the back side thereof.
The frame 36 is made of resin, and the power electrode 40 and the ground electrode 45 are molded on the frame 36 and rise from the bottom wall of the frame toward the front plate 32.

Since the power electrode 40 and the ground electrode 45 include the power supply line 18 inserted from the outside of the frame 36 and the electric wire connection portions 41 and 46 engaged with the ground line 19 in a wedge shape at the base portions, the power supply line 18 The earth wire 19 is connected to each electrode simply by inserting the stripped core wire, and is difficult to remove.
On the other hand, the front ends of the power electrode 40 and the ground electrode 45 extend to the vicinity of the front plate 32, respectively, and current-carrying portions 42 and 47 that can come into contact with the power electrode and the ground electrode of the plug 60 as a male connector described later. It has become.
In addition, the energizing portion 42 of the power electrode 40 of the outlet 30 is formed with a bulging portion 43 that protrudes toward the contact surface with the power electrode of the plug.

The ground electrode 45 rises from the bottom wall of the frame 36 and is offset by a predetermined amount along the front plate 32 toward the power electrode 40. The tip of the ground electrode 45 is a current-carrying portion 47, which is L-shaped as a whole.
In the front plate 32, electrode insertion holes 33 and 34 for receiving the power electrode of the plug and electrode insertion for receiving the ground electrode are inserted into portions corresponding to the respective power electrodes 40 (the current supplying portion 42) and the ground electrode 45 (the current supplying portion 47). A hole 35 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode insertion holes 33 and 34 for the power electrodes are arranged in parallel and facing each other at a predetermined interval, and the electrode insertion hole 35 for the ground electrode is arranged below the intermediate position of the electrode insertion holes 33 and 34. Has been. The arrangement of the three electrode insertion holes is, for example, the same standard as an outlet on the market (for example, an outlet with a JIS C 8303 two-pole grounding electrode).
1 corresponds to a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and shows only one of the pair of power electrodes 40, and also shows only one side of the power supply line 18 and a power supply line 88 described later.

The frame 36 is further provided with an optical connector support portion 37 that reaches the front plate 32 from its bottom wall.
The optical connector support portion 37 is provided with a slide hole 38 parallel to the plugging / unplugging direction of the ground electrode of the plug, and the slide hole 38 is aligned with the energization portion 47 of the ground electrode 45. For this reason, a part of the side wall of the slide hole 38 is notched so that the energization portion 47 of the ground electrode 45 faces the slide hole 38. The slide hole 38 passes through the bottom wall of the frame 36.

  An optical connector 50 is slidably inserted into the slide hole 38 of the optical connector support portion 37. A guide pin 54 is provided on the side wall of the optical connector 50, and the guide pin 54 is guided to a long hole-shaped guide hole 39 formed on the side wall of the slide hole 38, so that the slide range of the optical connector 50 is limited to a predetermined range. It has come to be. Further, the rotation of the optical connector 50 around the axis is restricted by the guide pin 54 engaging with the guide hole 39.

  The guide pin 54 penetrates the guide hole 39 and protrudes to the outside of the side wall, and a tension spring 55 is provided between the tip of the guide pin 54 and the end of the optical connector support portion 37 on the front plate 32 side. Thereby, the optical connector 50 is always urged in the direction of the front plate 32, and in a free state, one end is in a position close to the energizing portion 47 of the ground electrode 45.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the optical connector 50.
The optical connector 50 is composed of a main body 51 having a ferrule hole 56 passing through its axis and a cap 52 having a spring accommodating chamber 53, and a guide pin 54 extends from the main body 51.
A ferrule 90 supported by the connecting block 92 is inserted into the ferrule hole 56 from the cap 52 side.

4A and 4B are enlarged views showing a connection structure between the optical fiber 20 and the ferrule 90, in which FIG. 4A shows a longitudinal section, and FIG. 4B shows a section BB section in FIG.
Here, a two-core ferrule is used. The optical fiber core wire 20a (which covers two optical fiber strands) extending from the switchboard 10 is stripped and the optical fiber strand 20b is inserted into a connecting block 92 coupled to the ferrule 90, and further the optical fiber strand The optical fiber 20c from which the protective member 20b has been peeled extends to the tip of the ferrule 90 and is embedded.

As is well known, the ferrule 90 is made of, for example, stainless steel (SUS) or zirconia ceramic, and its tip is polished together with the end face of the optical fiber 20c so as to be a plane perpendicular to the axial direction.
In particular, as shown in FIG. 4B, the cross section of the ferrule 90 has a semicircular shape with a part cut.
In the present application, the optical fiber core wire 20a, the optical fiber strand 20b, and the optical fiber 20c in the optical fiber strand are collectively represented by "optical fiber" 20 unless it is particularly necessary to distinguish them.

Returning to FIG. 3, a recess 57 for slidably receiving the connecting block 92 is formed at the end of the main body 51 on the cap 52 side.
The cap 52 is fixed to the other end of the main body 51 by screwing or bonding (the side far from the energizing portion 47 of the ground electrode 45), and the spring 58 disposed in the spring accommodating chamber 53 urges the connecting block 92 to It is pressed against the opening end face on the side far from the energizing portion 47.

The optical fiber 20 is connected to the connecting block 92 and the ferrule 90 through a hole provided in the bottom wall of the cap 52.
The ferrule hole 56 of the main body 51 of the optical connector 50 has a semicircular cross section that matches the shape of the cross section of the ferrule 90. Thereby, the attitude | position about the axis | shaft of the ferrule 90 with respect to the main body 51 is prescribed | regulated.
A slit 59 for receiving a protector section, which will be described later, is formed on the end surface of the optical connector main body 51 facing the front plate 32.

Next, the male plug 60 provided at the terminal of the composite cable 86 extending from the personal computer 80 and inserted into the outlet 30 will be described.
The plug 60 is inserted into the outlet 30, and the power line 88 and the optical fiber 20 ′ of the composite cable 86 are connected to the power supply line 18 and the optical fiber 20 on the switchboard 10 side, respectively, and the ground wire 89 of the composite cable 86 is connected. Connect to ground wire 19.
The plug 60 includes a cap plate 61 that fixes and supports the power electrode 65 and the ground electrode 70 by a resin mold, and a case 62 whose opening is sealed by the cap plate.
The surface of the cap plate 61 is a surface facing the front plate 32 of the outlet 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the arrangement of the electrodes 65, 65, 70 is the same standard as that distributed in the market corresponding to the electrode insertion holes 33, 34, 35 of the outlet 30. For example, it has a cross section that can be inserted into the ground electrode of an existing commercial power outlet installed on the wall of a house.
In FIGS. 1 and 5 and FIGS. 6 to 8 described later, the thickness of the ground electrode 70 is greatly drawn for easy understanding.

As shown in FIG. 1, one end of the power electrode 65 extends perpendicularly outward from the wall surface of the cap plate 61 and serves as a contact portion with the energization portion 42 of the power electrode 40 of the outlet 30. The other end of the power electrode 65 is a connection portion with the power supply line 88 in the case 62.
Near the tip of the contact portion of the power electrode 65, a round hole 66 that engages with the bulging portion 43 formed in the energization portion 42 of the power electrode 40 of the outlet 30 is provided. The engagement relationship between the bulging portion 43 and the round hole 66 is a known structure, thereby enhancing the function of preventing the plug 60 from coming off.
One end of the ground electrode 70 also extends perpendicularly outward from the wall surface of the cap plate 61 and serves as a contact portion with the energizing portion 47 of the ground electrode 45 of the outlet. The other end of the ground electrode 70 is a connection portion with the ground wire 89 in the case 62.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the ground electrode 70 taken out.
The ground electrode 70 includes a cylindrical portion 71 having a bottom wall 72 at an outer distal end portion, and a protector portion 78 extending outward from the distal end (bottom wall 72) of the cylindrical portion 71.
The protruding length of the cylindrical portion 71 from the cap plate 61 is set to be shorter than the power electrode 65.
A connecting block 92 ′ supporting a ferrule 90 ′ is slidably accommodated at the distal end side in the cylindrical portion 71, and an inner cylinder 73 is inserted and fixed on the root side so that the distal end of the inner cylinder 73 and the connecting block 92 ′ are connected. A spring 58 'is arranged between them. The connecting block 92 ′ is urged by the spring 58 ′ and is pressed against the bottom wall 72 of the inner cylinder 71. A ferrule 90 ′ extending from the connecting block 92 ′ extends outward through a hole 75 provided in the bottom wall 72.

Although not shown in particular, the hole 75 in the bottom wall 72 has a shape that matches the cross section of the ferrule 90 ', thereby defining the attitude of the ferrule 90' in the direction around the axis. The orientation of the ferrule 90 ′ is set so as to coincide with the orientation of the ferrule 90 in the optical connector 50 of the outlet when the plug 60 is inserted into the outlet 30.
The shapes and sizes of the ferrule 90 ′ and the connecting block 92 ′ are the same as those of the ferrule 90 and the connecting block 92 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the protector portion 78 surrounds the ferrule 90 ′ protruding from the bottom wall 75 with a predetermined gap, and its outer peripheral surface extends a part of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 71 as it is in the axial direction. Is.
The range in which the protector portion 78 surrounds the ferrule 90 'is preferably set to be a semicircle or more in the cross section. Further, the length of the protector portion 78 is preferably the same as or slightly shorter than the maximum protruding length of the ferrule 90 ′ when the connecting block 92 ′ is pressed against the bottom wall 72.

  The length of the cylindrical portion 71 protruding from the wall surface of the cap plate 61 is such that when the plug 60 is inserted into the outlet 30 and the cap plate 61 and the front plate 32 come into contact with each other, the bottom wall 75 of the cylindrical portion 71 and the optical connector 50 Although a slight gap is set between the end face and the end face, the optical connector 50 can slide even if the bottom wall 72 and the end face of the optical connector 50 come into contact with each other due to an error or the like. Is absorbed. Further, the depth of the slit 59 of the optical connector 50 is set to such an extent that the protector portion 78 does not bottom out, but even if there is an error, it is similarly absorbed.

Returning to FIG. 1, the composite cable 86 from the personal computer 80 is drawn into the case 62 through the hole provided at the top, and the power line 88 and the ground line 89 are connected to the power electrode 65 and the ground electrode 70 as described above. Connected to (connecting part) by caulking or the like. The optical fiber 20 ′ is connected to the connecting block 92 ′ (and the ferrule 90 ′) through the inner tube 73 of the ground electrode.
The connection structure between the optical fiber 20 ′, the connecting block 92 ′ and the ferrule 90 ′ is the same as that shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a connection state in which the plug 60 is inserted into the outlet 30 in the above configuration.
The power electrode 65 of the plug 60 comes into contact with the current-carrying portion 42 of the power electrode 40 of the outlet 30 so that the power supply state is established, and the power supply line 18 and the power supply line 88 are connected.
The ground electrode 70 of the plug 60 has its cylindrical portion 71 in contact with the energization portion 47 of the ground electrode 45 of the outlet 30 so that the ground wire 19 and the ground wire 89 are connected.
Then, the ferrule 90 ′ protruding from the tip of the cylindrical portion 71 enters the ferrule hole 56 of the optical connector 50 of the outlet, and the tip of the ferrule 90 comes into contact with the tip of the ferrule 90 housed in the ferrule hole.

At this time, since the orientations of the ferrules 90 and 90 ′ in the direction around the axis are set to coincide with each other, the two-core optical fibers at the end surfaces of the ferrules face each other with high accuracy. Thereby, the optical fiber 20 and the optical fiber 20 ′ are connected.
During this time, the protector portion 78 that protects the ferrule 90 ′ protruding from the cylindrical portion 71 is received by the slit 59 of the optical connector 50, so that it does not interfere with the optical connector 50.

FIG. 8 shows a state when a normal power plug is inserted into the outlet.
In the conventional normal plug 60Z, the ground electrode 70Z has a projection length equivalent to that of the power electrode 65. However, the power electrode 65 comes into contact with the current-carrying portion 42 of the power electrode 40 of the outlet 30, and the power is in an energized state. The supply line 18 and the power supply line 88 are connected. The ground electrode 70Z of the plug 60Z is also in contact with the energizing portion 47 of the ground electrode 45 of the outlet so that the ground wire 19 and the ground wire 89 are connected.

On the other hand, since the length of the ground electrode 70Z is larger than the cylindrical portion 71 of the ground electrode 70 of the plug 60 in the embodiment, the tip of the ground electrode 70Z comes into contact with the optical connector 50. Here, since the optical connector 50 is slidable along the slide hole 38, when it is pushed by the ground electrode 70Z of the plug 60Z, it escapes outward against the tension spring 55, and the ground electrode 70Z and the optical connector 50 are escaped. Will not interfere.
As described above, the outlet 30 can be inserted with a conventional general plug 60Z that does not support optical fibers, and in this case as well, a power supply state can be obtained as in the conventional case.

Next, the composite cable 86 will be described.
As the composite cable 86, for example, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-266665, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-318286, and the other proposed ones can be used. The composite cable 86 has a structure shown in FIG.
That is, the composite cable 86 has a circular shape as a whole in its cross section, and the insulator 111 inside has three non-circular blocks 112 to be pointed with respect to the central axis O.

The outer periphery of each block 112 is an arcuate surface 113, and the inner periphery is an arcuate surface 114 that is convex toward the central axis O. The top of the arcuate surface 114 has a gap of a predetermined amount d from the central axis O, so that each arcuate surface 114 is defined by three arcs 112 between the three blocks 112, and the arm 115 extends in three directions. S is formed.
A chamfer is formed at a corner of the outer periphery of the insulator 111 on a radial line passing from the central axis O to the tip of each arm 115 to form a cutout 118 in appearance, and the tip of each arm 115 and the cutout 118 are connected. The radial line is a partition line 117 between the blocks 112.

The outer periphery of the block 112 is covered with a sheath 110 having a ring-shaped cross section, and an optical fiber 20 ′ is disposed on the central axis O in the internal space S. In addition, spacers 125 are attached to the optical fiber at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction.
At the center of each block 112, a power source line 88 and a conductor 120 as a ground line 89 are arranged.
In addition, it is preferable that the tip position of each arm 115 described above reaches the envelope 122 of each conductor 120.
The sheath 110 and the insulator 111 are each formed of a polyvinyl chloride resin or the like.

In the above configuration, for example, the blocks 112 of the insulator 111 are surrounded by the optical fiber 20 ′, and the blocks 112 of the insulator 111 are combined into one piece while being extruded while wrapping the conductor 120. Thereafter, the sheath 110 is put on the outer periphery of the insulator 111 by extrusion molding.
According to this composite cable 86, when the plug 60 is inserted into the outlet 30, and the end surfaces of both ferrules 90 and 90 'are in contact with each other and slightly retracted against the springs 58 and 58', the light connected to the ferrule The fiber can escape in a wide space, and an excessive external force is not exerted on the optical fiber 20 ′.
Furthermore, even when an external force is applied to the cable from the side, such as when it is stepped on, the so-called cushion function is provided by the space S formed in the center of the inside, and the optical fiber is protected.

Although not a recommended wiring process, the optical fiber 20 ′ can escape from the central axis O position to the region of the arm 115 even when the composite cable is bundled in a bowed state when it is too long. Unreasonable external force does not reach.
Therefore, a tensile body for protecting optical fibers, which is always required for conventional optical cables, is also unnecessary.
In addition, since the conductor 120 is disposed around the central axis O, the connection between the power electrode and the plug 60 in which the ground electrode is similarly arranged is particularly smooth and easy.
Here, since the sheath 110 is put on the outside of the block 112, it is not necessary to join the blocks 112 to each other. However, if the sheath is not put, it may be joined to each other by the dividing line 117. Also in this case, the partition lines 117 between the insulating blocks 112 are short and the notches 118 are formed on the outer periphery of the partition lines 117. The composite electric wire can be easily separated.
Although the composite cable 16 is based on VVF as described above, the same structure as that of the composite cable 86 may be adopted.

In the present embodiment, the plug 60 corresponds to a male connector, and the outlet 30 corresponds to a female connector.
The position of the ferrule 90 ′ in a state where the spring 58 ′ in the plug 60 constitutes a first urging means and the connecting block 92 ′ is pressed against the bottom wall 72 of the cylindrical portion 71 corresponds to the first predetermined position.
The spring 58 in the outlet 30 constitutes a second urging means, and the position of the ferrule 90 in a state where the connecting block 92 is pressed against the opening end face of the ferrule hole 56 of the optical connector 50 corresponds to the second predetermined position.
In addition, the tension spring 55 in the outlet 30 constitutes a third biasing means, and the optical connector 50 is in the state where the optical connector 50 is closest to the current-carrying portion 47 of the ground electrode because the guide pin 54 is regulated by the guide hole 39. The position corresponds to the third predetermined position.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above, and the paired outlet 30 and plug 60 are connected to the power electrodes 40 and 65, the ground electrodes 45 and 70, and the optical fibers 20 and 20 ′, respectively, and the ground electrode 45 is connected. , 70 and the ferrules 90, 90 ′ arranged coaxially with the ferrules 90, 90 ′, when the power electrode and the ground electrode are connected to the counterpart power electrode and the ground electrode, respectively, the end face of the ferrule 90, 90 ′ Therefore, the connection of the power supply system and the connection of the optical fiber can be performed simultaneously by a simple operation of inserting the plug 60 into the outlet 30. Therefore, the wiring around the connection portion is simplified by combining the power cable 88 and the like with the composite cable 86 in which the optical cable 20 'is integrated.

  In particular, in the plug 60, the power electrode 65 and the ground electrode 70 extend from the cap plate 61 in parallel with each other, and the ground electrode 70 forms a cylindrical portion 71 having a bottom wall 72 on the distal end side. It is configured to be held by 71 and protrude outward from the bottom wall 72, and has a shape that satisfies the standard of a normal male plug with a ground electrode, and is therefore compatible with a conventional male plug.

  The outlet 30 also has current-carrying portions 42 and 47 in which the power electrode 40 and the ground electrode 45 are in contact with the counterpart power electrode 65 and the ground electrode 70, and an optical connector having a ferrule hole 56 on the back side of the current-carrying portion 47 of the ground electrode. 50, and the ferrule hole 56 is configured to hold the ferrule 90 on the side away from the energizing portion 47 of the ground electrode and to receive the other ferrule 90 ′ from the opening on the energizing portion 47 side. Since the current-carrying parts 42 and 47 correspond to the plug 60 and are arranged so as to satisfy the standard of the female plug, it is compatible with a conventional female plug.

  Further, the ferrule 90 ′ of the plug 60 is positioned at a position where the connecting block 92 ′ is pressed against the bottom wall 72 of the cylindrical portion 71 in a state in which the ferrule 90 ′ is biased outwardly by the spring 58 ′. It is slidable with respect to the cylindrical portion 71 of the ground electrode. Therefore, when the ferrule 90 ′ receives an external force such as abutting against the ferrule 90 of the outlet when the plug 60 is inserted into the outlet 30, the ferrule 90 ′ moves backward against the spring 58 ′ and absorbs the external force to absorb the ferrule 90. The surface pressure to the end face of 'is set to an appropriate level.

  In a state where the ferrule 90 of the outlet 30 is also urged by the spring 58 in the direction of the energizing portion 47 of the ground electrode, the connecting block 92 is pressed against the opening end surface on the side far from the energizing portion 47 of the ferrule hole 56 of the optical connector 50. Although it is positioned at the position, it is slidable with respect to the ferrule hole 56. Therefore, when it comes into contact with the ferrule 90 'of the plug 60 that has entered the ferrule hole 56 from the opening on the energizing portion 47 side, Accordingly, the surface pressure between the ferrule end faces becomes an appropriate level at a position where the ferrules 90, 90 ′ are retreated in the axial direction and the urging forces applied to the ferrules 90, 90 ′ are balanced.

  Since the ground electrode 70 of the plug 60 includes a protector portion 78 that extends outward from the bottom wall 72 of the cylindrical portion 71, even if the ferrule 90 ′ protrudes from the cylindrical portion 71, it covers this and other objects collide with it. Even if there is, damage to the ferrule 90 'is prevented. And since the external shape of the protector part 78 is in the external cross section of the cylinder part 71, the function as a ground electrode is not impaired.

  Further, the optical connector 50 of the outlet 30 is urged by the tension spring 55 and one end is set at a position close to the energizing portion 47 of the ground electrode 45, but is slidable in the axial direction. Even if the length of the ground electrode of the plug inserted into the connector interferes with the optical connector at the set position, the interference is prevented by the backward movement of the optical connector 50 by sliding. Thereby, even if the length of the ground electrode of a normal male plug varies, compatibility can still be maintained.

The composite cable 86 extends from the personal computer 80. However, in the case where the composite cable and the personal computer are also detachable, the composite cable 86 is connected to the personal computer connector from which the electrode protrudes in the same manner as the plug 60. The other end of the cable may be provided with a female plug 100 having an internal structure similar to that of the outlet 30 and whose external appearance is illustrated in FIG.
Similarly, in the embodiment, the female connector is the outlet 30 installed on the wall surface of a building or the like, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the female plug 100 shown in FIG. 10 may be used.

The optical fibers 20 and 20 ′ are aligned by aligning the cross-sectional shape of the ferrule hole 56 with the cross-sectional shape of the ferrules 90 and 90 ′. The cross-section of the connecting blocks 92 and 92 ′ supporting the ferrule is a quadrangle other than a circle, for example, and the cross-section of the sliding area of the connecting block is matched with the cross-sectional shape of the connecting block. Highly accurate centering can be achieved by regulating the posture.
In addition, although the example using the two-core optical fibers 20 and 20 ′ is shown, the number of cores of the optical fiber may be set as necessary, and a ferrule corresponding to the number of cores may be used.
In particular, in the case of a single core, by setting an optical fiber at the axis of the ferrule, the ferrule can have a circular cross section without having to regulate its posture.

The connection structure between each electrode and the power supply line, the power supply line, and the ground line is not limited to the illustrated structure, and a known structure can be arbitrarily adopted.
In addition, the arrangement and size of each power electrode and ground electrode on the male side and female side are the same as the standard for plugs and outlets for commercial power, but if the standard is revised or the standard differs from country to country, What is necessary is just to set suitably so that the specification in each area may be satisfied.
The protector portion 78 covers a part of the periphery of the ferrule 90 ′ protruding from the cylindrical portion 71 of the ground electrode 70, but may also surround the entire circumference.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, the ferrule connected to the optical fiber on the plug side is supported by the ground electrode. However, the power electrode may have a cylindrical cross section regardless of the presence or absence of the ground electrode. For example, the ferrule may be supported by the power electrode instead of the ground electrode. It is also possible to assign a single core ferrule to each power electrode. In this case, the optical connector 50 on the outlet side is also arranged on the back side in the axial direction of the corresponding power electrode. In any case, the optical fiber is arranged on the central axis by adopting the cross-sectional structure of the composite cable 86, so that it can be easily routed.

Moreover, by forming the ferrule on the plug side with a highly conductive metal material, the ferrule itself can be used also as a power electrode or a ground electrode.
In this case, the ferrule hole 56 of the optical connector 50 also has a large diameter corresponding to the ferrule on the plug side.
Furthermore, the optical connector 50 can also be used as a power electrode or a ground electrode.

  In the embodiment, the combined power / optical connection structure by connecting the outlet 30 and the plug 60 is used to connect the personal computer 80 to the HUB 14 of the optical LAN provided in the switchboard 10. In addition to a personal computer, a TV, video device, a DVD recorder that downloads high-definition video from the outside through a broadband router connected to an external optical fiber network, etc. can be connected. The present invention can also be applied as it is when connecting the two.

Further, for example, when wireless communication is interposed in the connection between the HUB 14 and the notebook personal computer, it can be provided as a host-side adapter that can be connected to the outlet 30 by the plug 60.
FIG. 11 shows an example of connection between a host wireless adapter 93 as a host side adapter and a notebook computer 97.
The host wireless adapter 93 includes an optical LAN / USB protocol converter 94 and a wireless USB host 95. The plug 60 described in the embodiment is connected to the host wireless adapter 93, and the power line 88 and the ground line 89 are a power source (not shown) for driving the optical LAN / USB protocol converter 94 and the wireless USB host 95. The optical fiber 20 ′ is connected to the optical LAN / USB protocol conversion unit 94.

The optical LAN / USB protocol conversion unit 94 converts the LAN signal transmitted from the HUB 14 of the switchboard via the outlet 30 through the optical fiber 20 ′ according to the USB protocol, and outputs it to the wireless USB host 95. The wireless USB host 95 transmits a USB signal from the antenna 96 as a radio wave. On the other hand, the notebook computer 97 is provided with a wireless USB device 99, which receives a transmission radio wave with an antenna 98 and receives a USB signal. This is restored to a LAN signal through the USB / LAN protocol converter, but is not shown because of the normal configuration.
Thereby, for example, the notebook computer 97 can be easily connected to the LAN simply by inserting the plug 60 of the host wireless adapter 93 into the outlet 30 in the room into which the notebook computer 97 is carried.

It is a figure which shows embodiment. It is a front view of an outlet socket. It is an enlarged view of an optical connector. It is an enlarged view which shows the connection structure of an optical fiber and a ferrule. It is a front view of a plug. It is an enlarged view of the ground electrode of a plug. It is a figure which shows the connection state which plugged in the outlet. It is a figure which shows a state when a normal power plug is inserted into an outlet. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a composite cable. It is a figure which shows the example of an external appearance of the female type plug replaced with an outlet socket. It is a figure which shows the example of application to LAN connection of a notebook personal computer.

10 Switchboard 14 HUB
16, 86 Composite cable 18 Power supply line 19, 89 Ground wire 20, 20 'Optical fiber 20a Optical fiber core wire 20b Optical fiber strand 30 Outlet 31 Casing 32 Table plate 33, 34, 35 Electrode insertion hole 36 Frame 37 Optical connector Support portion 38 Slide hole 39 Guide hole 40, 65 Power electrode 41, 46 Electric wire connection portion 42, 47 Current-carrying portion 45 Ground electrode 50 Optical connector 51 Main body 52 Cap 53 Spring accommodating chamber 54 Guide pin 55 Tension spring 56 Ferrule hole 57 Recess 58 58 'Spring 59 Slit 60, 60Z Plug 61 Cap plate 62 Case 70, 70Z Earth electrode 71 Tube portion 72 Bottom wall 73 Inner tube 75 Hole 78 Protector portion 80 Personal computer 88 Power line 90, 90' Ferrule 92, 2 'connecting block 93 host wireless adapter 94 optical LAN / USB protocol converter 95 wireless USB host 96, 98 antenna 97 notebook computer 99 wireless USB device 100 plug 110 sheath 111 insulator 112 block 113 arc surface 114 arc surface 115 arm 117 Dividing line 118 Notch 120 Conductor 122 Envelope 125 Spacer

Claims (5)

A convex electrode having a bottom wall (72) that supports the optical fiber (20 ') and has a ferrule (90') that enters the ferrule hole (56) of the counterpart optical receptacle (50) and extends outwardly. (70)
When the convex electrode (70) is connected to the other energizing portion (47) outside the ferrule hole (56), the ferrule (90 ′) enters the ferrule hole (56) and the optical fiber (20 ') of the optical connection structure characterized to have access to the optical connection means to be connected to the optical transmission line of counterparty (20). The other electrode (65, 70) received by the electrode insertion hole (33, 35) is connected to the current-carrying part (42, 47),
The other end optical fiber (20 ′) supported on the ferrule (90 ′) by the ferrule hole (56) of the optical receptacle (50) is connected to the optical transmission line (20),
Connecting the current-carrying part (47) outside the ferrule hole (56) to the electrode (70) comprising the ferrule (90 ′) ;
When the electrode (70) is connected to the energization part (47), the ferrule (90 ′) enters the ferrule hole (56) and the optical fiber (20 ′) is connected to the optical transmission line (20). optical connection structure characterized that you provide optical connection means connected to.   An optical cable comprising the optical connection structure (60, 100) according to claim 1 or 2.   Terminal comprising the optical connection structure (60) according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is connected to optical communication network means via the optical fiber (20 ').   An optical connection structure (60) according to claim 1, comprising an optical communication network means via the optical fiber (20 '), and a terminal (97) providing means for connection to the optical communication network. Featured device (93).