JPH04283973A - Signal input/output jack - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an electrical signal and an optical signal to be transmitted with a same jack. CONSTITUTION:A cylindrically shaped portion 3 which is formed by an insulation member is provided while surrounding an optical IC2 which is mounted on a substrate 1 and then a pair of electrodes 4 which can be opened and closed are provided at a position opposing an optical IC 2 within the cylindrically shaped portion 3. Then, by inserting a metal pin 14 into the cylindrically shaped portion 3, the electrodes 4 and the metal pin 14 are electrically connected. Then, by inserting an optical cable 22, the optical IC2 and an optical cable 22 are optically connected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal input/output jack that can input and output signals electrically and optically using the same jack.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when signals such as video signals, audio signals, and control signals are transmitted using input/output jacks, if these signals are electrical signals, a cylindrical A pin plug made of metal is inserted into the connector, and the pin plug is brought into contact with an electrode provided inside the connector.

Furthermore, when the signal to be transmitted is an optical signal, optical I
C was mounted, and an optical fiber was removably provided opposite to this light receiving element to transmit and receive signals.

0004

[Problem to be solved by the invention] By the way, until now,
2. Description of the Related Art In AV devices and the like, signals are usually transmitted between devices electrically using cords. However, recently it has been proposed to transmit this signal optically. Therefore, in order to enable both electrical and optical transmission, each device must be equipped with two dedicated input/output jacks for electrical and optical transmission, which requires a large amount of space. There was a problem that the factor worsened and the device became larger.

[0005] The present invention was made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to provide a signal input/output jack that can transmit electrical signals and optical signals using the same jack. purpose.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The signal input/output jack of the present invention includes a photoelectric conversion element that receives light and converts it into an electric signal, or converts an electric signal into light, and a photoelectric conversion element that surrounds the photoelectric conversion element. A metal pin is inserted into the cylindrical part to electrically transmit the electrode and the metal pin, and an optical cable is inserted into the cylindrical part. The present invention is characterized in that the photoelectric conversion element and the optical cable are optically transmitted.

[0007]

[Operation] In the signal input/output jack having the above structure, when transmitting an electrical signal, a metal pin is inserted into the cylindrical part and the electrode in the cylindrical part is brought into contact with the metal pin. Further, when transmitting optical signals, an optical cable is inserted into the cylindrical part, and its tip is opposed to the photoelectric conversion element. The light output from the photoelectric conversion element is transmitted to the optical cable, and the light output from the optical cable is converted into an electrical signal by the photoelectric conversion element.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of an embodiment of the jack of the present invention. In the figure, an optical IC 2 having a built-in light-receiving element and a light-emitting element (either one of them may be used) is mounted on a substrate 1. Furthermore, one end of a cylindrical portion 3 made of plastic is fixed to the surface of the substrate 1 on which the optical IC 2 is mounted so as to surround the optical IC 2. Cylindrical part 3 with a substantially circular cross section
The diameter of the other end is reduced, and a pair of electrodes 4 are provided on the inner periphery of this stepped portion so as to be openable and closable. Also, 1
The pair of electrodes 4 are each connected to a wiring pattern (not shown) formed on the substrate 1 via lead wires 5 . Further, a ground electrode 6 is provided on the outer periphery of the reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical portion 3, and is connected to a wiring pattern (not shown) formed on the substrate 1 via a lead wire 7. and a pair of electrodes 4
are in contact with each other when nothing is inserted into the hole 3a of the cylindrical portion 3.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. As shown in FIG. 2, a round hole 12 is provided concentrically on the end surface of the tip of the outer cylinder 11 of the plug, which is made of plastic and has a cylindrical shape, and an electrode 13 is provided on the inner periphery of the round hole 12. It is being In addition, a metal pin electrode 14 is placed concentrically in the center of the round hole 12.
is provided prominently. Further, the ground electrode 13 and the pin electrode 14 are each connected to an electric cord (not shown) led out to the outside of the plug via a lead wire (not shown) inside the plug. That is, this plug is commonly known as an RCA(TM) pin plug.

When the pin electrode 14 is inserted into the hole 3a of the jack and the plug is fitted into the jack, the pin electrode 14 and the electrode 4 in the cylindrical part 3 come into contact, and the ground electrodes 6 and 12 comes into contact. As a result, an external device (not shown) and the circuit on the board 1 are electrically connected, and signals can be electrically transmitted and received between the two. Further, at this time, the pair of electrodes 4 are electrically connected via the pin electrode 14. A detection circuit (not shown) is provided on the substrate 1 side to detect the electrical connection state of the pin 4, and when the detection circuit detects the electrical connection of the electrode 4, the optical IC 2 does not operate. controlled as follows.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a socket 21 and
A plug consisting of an optical cable (optical fiber) 22 supported at its center is formed in substantially the same shape as the pin plug described above. This optical cable 22 is connected to the hole 3a of the cylindrical part 3.
When inserted into the interior, the tip of the optical cable 22 connects to a pair of electrodes 4
Push open and face the optical IC 2 (contact if necessary). Since the optical cable 22 has no conductivity, the detection circuit detects the disconnected state of the electrode 4 at this time. This enables the optical IC 2 to operate. The light emitted from the light emitting element enters into the optical cable 22 from its end face, and is guided to the outside through the internal optical fiber. Alternatively, the optical signal transmitted from the outside may be transmitted to the optical cable 2.
The light is emitted from the end face of the optical IC 2 and enters the light receiving element of the optical IC 2. The light receiving element generates an electric signal corresponding to the incident light and outputs it to the circuit on the substrate 1.

According to this embodiment, electrical signals and optical signals can be transmitted using the same signal input/output jack, and space saving can be achieved. Furthermore, by forming the pair of electrodes 4 so as to shield the inner periphery entrance of the reduced diameter part of the cylindrical part 3, when the pin electrode 14 or the optical cable 22 is not inserted into the cylindrical part 3, the cylindrical part It is possible to prevent foreign matter such as dust from entering the interior of the device. Furthermore, only when the optical cable 22 is inserted into the cylindrical part 3, the optical IC
2 is in the operating state, the life of the light emitting element can be extended.

In the above, the pair of electrodes 4 are connected to the hole 3a.
provided so as to close the end face of the hole 3a in a direction perpendicular to the
Although it is arranged so as to be in contact with the surface of the tip of the pin electrode 14 or the optical cable 22, it can also be arranged along the inner peripheral wall of the hole 3a and brought into contact with the pin electrode 14 or the outer peripheral wall of the optical cable 22. In this case, the detection circuit detects the electrical connection between the pair of electrodes 4 when the pin electrode 14 is inserted, and detects the disconnection state when the optical cable 22 is inserted.

[0015]

As explained above, according to the signal input/output jack of the present invention, since the photoelectric conversion element is surrounded by the cylindrical part and the electrodes are provided inside the cylindrical part, the same jack can be used to receive electrical signals. Both optical signal transmission and optical signal transmission can be performed. Therefore, space saving and miniaturization of the device can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the signal input/output jack of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] A vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a pin plug is inserted into the jack shown in Fig. 1.

[Figure 3] Vertical cross-sectional view showing the optical cable inserted into the jack shown in Figure 1

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Board 2 Optical IC 3 Cylindrical part 4 Electrode 14 Pin electrode (metal pin) 22 Optical cable

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] Either receives light and converts it into an electrical signal, or
or a photoelectric conversion element that converts an electrical signal into light; a cylindrical part formed surrounding the photoelectric conversion element; and an electrode disposed inside the cylindrical part; A signal input/output jack characterized in that the electrode and the metal pin are electrically connected by inserting a pin, and the photoelectric conversion element and the optical cable are optically connected by inserting an optical cable.