JPH0514252Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention mainly relates to a connector between audio devices such as audio reproduction devices, and relates to a connector having an optical fiber connection function.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, ordinary conducting wires have been used to connect electronic devices, especially audio devices, and connectors for connecting one electrical system include, for example, RCA, which is a female connecting member shown in Fig. 3. A type pin jack 20 and an RCA type pin plug 21 which is a male connecting member shown in FIG. 4 are generally used. The pin jack 20 includes a substantially U-shaped jack center conductor 22 which is disposed at the center and becomes the hot side, a jack outer sheath conductor 23 which is disposed at the outer periphery on the side where the pin plug is inserted and which becomes the ground side, and a jack outer conductor 23 which is disposed at the outer periphery on the pin plug insertion side and becomes the ground side. The jack insulator 24 is disposed between the conductor 22 and the jack jacket conductor 23 to insulate them and also serves as a base body.

On the other hand, the pin plug 21 is also connected to the pin jack 2.
0, a plug center pin 25 which is a connecting protrusion disposed at the center and becomes the hot side, a plug outer sheath conductor 26 which is disposed at the outer periphery and becomes the ground side,
and a plug insulator 27 disposed between the plug center pin 25 and the plug outer conductor 26 to insulate them.

Then, during normal use, the pin plug 21
is inserted into the pin jack 20, and both ends of the jack center conductor 22, which are the hot side of the electrical signal, elastically clamp the plug center pin 25 from the direction perpendicular to the axis, and the ground side of the electrical signal is inserted into the pin jack 20. The plaque-covered conductor 26 elastically presses the jack-covered conductor 23 to bring them into stable contact with each other, thereby establishing a connection between electrical devices.

At this time, since the jack center conductor 22 is formed in a substantially U-shape, both ends of the jack center conductor 22 are integrated. Even if one end moves outward more than normal, the other end can follow and move.
The contact between the plug center pin 25 and the jack center conductor 22 can be stabilized.

However, the conventional structure described above is only capable of transmitting information through one electrical system, and has the problem of being unable to respond to the sophistication of information transmission performance that is required as the amount of transmitted information increases. .

Therefore, in order to avoid the above problem, Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-176745, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-53706, and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 111008-1988, which enable optical information transmission in addition to electrical system information transmission, have been proposed. The disclosed connectors are known.

These types of connectors have built-in optical elements such as light-receiving elements and light-emitting elements for transmitting and receiving optical signals using optical fibers, and are capable of transmitting electrical signals and optical signals that can transmit a high amount of information. It is now possible to connect both at the same time.

However, in each of the above configurations, there is no disclosure of a dual-purpose connector that transmits and receives electrical signals and optical signals while maintaining the shape of the conventional connector for transmitting and receiving electrical signals. Connecting or disconnecting the connector sometimes caused a sense of discomfort, and it sometimes took time to perform quick operations.

[Purpose of invention]

The present invention was developed in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in response to the advancement of information transmission performance, it simultaneously combines the connection function for optical signals and the function for ordinary electrical signals, and The object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can use the shape and function of conventional electrical signal connectors.

[Structure of the idea]

In order to achieve the above object, the connector of the present invention is provided with a male connecting member having a connecting protrusion, and has a central contact part that elastically holds the connecting protrusion, and a central contact part that elastically holds the connecting protrusion. In a connector for connecting one electrical system by fitting the male connecting member and the female connecting member, the connector is provided with a central conductor having a central conductor that is integrated with the male connecting member. The female connecting member is provided with the tip of the optical fiber exposed at the tip of the connecting protrusion, and the female connecting member is provided with an optical fiber on the optical axis of the optical signal transmitted and received at the tip of the optical fiber. A light element is provided,
Further, a concave portion is formed in the fulcrum portion of the central conductor to enable transmission and reception of optical signals between the optical element and the optical fiber, and provides a connection function for electrical signals as well as a connection function for optical signals. The present invention is characterized in that it is configured so that it can be used in the form of a conventional connector.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pin jack 1, which is a female connecting member, includes a jack insulator 2 that forms a base and provides insulation between each component.
A jack jacket conductor 3 is provided on the front outer circumference of the jack, a jack center conductor 4 is provided inside the jack insulator 2, and an optical element 5 is provided on the rear end of the jack insulator 2. It consists of a substrate 7 to which a circuit element 6 and a circuit element 6 are attached.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the pin plug 8, which is a male connection member, includes a plug center pin 9 which is a connection protrusion disposed at the center, a plug outer sheath conductor 10 disposed at the outer periphery, It consists of a plug insulator 11 disposed between the plug center pin 9 and the plug outer conductor 10 for insulation, and an optical fiber 12 having one end disposed inside the plug center conductor 9. The pin plug 8 is fitted into the pin jack 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the pin plug 8 and pin jack 1 constitute a connector that can be electrically connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, an optical element 5 is disposed at the center of the substrate 7 in the pin jack 1 so as to face the end surface of the optical fiber 12, and when the pin plug 8 is inserted into the pin jack 1, , the center of the optical axis at the end face of the optical fiber 12 coincides with the center of light and reception in the optical element 5.

When the connector is on the transmitting side of an optical signal, the optical element 5 is a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal, and the circuit element 6 disposed near it is A driver integrated circuit or the like is used to drive the light emitting element.
On the other hand, when the connector is on the receiving side of the optical signal, a light receiving element such as a phototransistor that converts the optical signal into an electrical signal is used as the optical element 5, and
As the circuit element 6, an amplifier/comparator integrated circuit or the like is used to amplify the electrical signal to a logic level.

Also, the jack outer conductor 3 of the jack insulator 2
A jack center hole 13 is formed in the center part way from the end surface of the jacket.
has such a size and shape that the plug center pin 9 of the pin plug 8 shown in FIG. 2 can be fitted therein. The jack center conductor 4 that is electrically connected to the plug center pin 9 has guide portions 14 and 1 that are separated into two branches.
4 are formed, and these guide parts 14, 14
The tip has an acute direction.

As shown in FIG. 1b, center contact portions 15, 15 are formed on the side of the jack center hole 13 of the guide portions 14, 14 and project into the jack center hole 13, and the plug center pin 9 is connected to the pin jack. 1
These center contact parts 15, 1 when inserted into
5 elastically moves outward while contacting the plug center pin 9, the plug center pin 9 and the jack center conductor 4 can stably and firmly contact each other.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG.
It has a semicircular shape (concave portion) and is designed so as not to affect the transmission and reception of optical signals between the optical element 5 located at the center of the substrate 7 and the end face of the optical fiber 12.

Moreover, the fulcrum part 16 is connected to each guide part 14, 14.
Since the center contact parts 15 and 15 are integrated, even if the plug center pin 9 is inserted slightly obliquely, and one center contact part 15 elastically moves outward to a greater extent than usual, the other The center contact portions 15 of the plugs are moved inwardly accordingly to maintain contact between each center contact portion 15, 15 and the plug center pin 9.

The jack jacket conductor 3 has a shape slightly larger than the inside of the plug jacket conductor 10 of the pin plug 8, and is formed with a slightly rounded corner 3a of the circumference. 3a and the inclined tapered portion 10a formed at the end of the plug sheath conductor 10, the pin plug 8 can be smoothly inserted into the pin jack 1, and the plug sheath conductor 10 can be elastically deformed outward. As a result, the plug jacket conductor 10 and the jack jacket conductor 3 are brought into firm contact and electrically connected.

Furthermore, an optical fiber 12 is disposed on the tip end surface of the plug center pin 9 of the pin plug 8 so that one end surface of the optical fiber 12 is flush with the end surface exposed. is now being sent and received. In addition, the plug center pin 9 is
Although the plug center pin 9 protrudes so as to be inserted into the jack center hole 13, even if the plug center pin 9 is inserted into the jack center hole 13 as far as it can go, the end surface of the plug center pin 9 will not touch the optical element 5 on the substrate 7, Since the optical element 5 and the circuit element 6 are configured not to be in contact with each other, the optical element 5 and the circuit element 6 will not be destroyed by the tip surface of the plug center pin 9.

In the above configuration, for example, when this connector is used as an optical signal transmitting side, a light emitting diode is disposed on the substrate 7 of the pin jack 1 as the optical element 5, and a driver integrated circuit is disposed as the circuit element 6. and insert pin plug 8 into pin jack 1. Then, the jack center conductor 4 and the plug center pin 9, which are on the hot side, are also connected to the jack outer sheath conductor 3 and the plug outer sheath conductor 1, which are on the ground side.
0 means that the light emitting diode and the end face of the optical fiber 12 are stably electrically connected to each other, and are placed slightly apart from each other, and the optical signal of the light emitting diode driven by the driver integrated circuit is transferred to the optical fiber 12.
can be sent to other electronic devices.

In addition, when this connector is used on the other end of the optical fiber 12 which is the receiving side of the optical signal, a phototransistor is arranged on the substrate 7 as the optical element 5, and an amplifier/comparator integrated circuit is arranged as the circuit element 6. When the pin plug 8 is inserted into the pin jack 1, the optical signal from the optical fiber 12 is converted into an electrical signal by the photodiode, processed by the amplifier/comparator integrated circuit, and then
Output.

In the configuration of the above embodiment, the fulcrum part 16 that integrates the guide parts 14, 14 and the center contact parts 15, 15 in the jack center conductor 4 has a semicircular shape, and is located at the center of the board 7. Since consideration has been given to not affecting the transmission and reception of optical signals between the optical element 5 and the end face of the optical fiber 12, the shape of the commonly used electrical signal connector and the reliable hot side A connection function for transmitting and receiving optical signals can be provided while maintaining the connection function.

As a result, the above configuration simultaneously combines optical signal connection functions and normal electrical signal connection functions in a simple configuration, making it possible to respond to advances in information transmission performance. The conventional shape allows for quick and easy connection and disconnection.

Furthermore, since the conventional shape can be maintained, it is possible to avoid increasing the size of a connector that serves both the connection function of optical signals and the connection function of ordinary electrical signals.

Moreover, with the above configuration, it is possible to avoid noise due to common grounding that occurs when transmitting information using electrical signals when transmitting information using optical signals.

In addition, in this connector, the jack outer conductor 3 is
It also serves as a shield plate, and when the circuit element 6 containing a high-gain amplifier is disposed inside the pin jack 1, the noise resistance becomes high.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, the connector of the present invention connects one electrical system by fitting the male connecting member and the female connecting member, and the male connecting member has a connecting protrusion. The tip of the optical fiber is provided at the tip with the tip exposed, and an optical element is provided on the female connecting member on the optical axis of the optical signal transmitted and received at the tip of the optical fiber, and In this configuration, a concave portion is formed in the fulcrum portion to enable transmission and reception of optical signals between the optical element and the optical fiber.

As a result, the above configuration has a concave portion formed in the fulcrum part of the center conductor to enable transmission and reception of optical signals between the optical element and the optical fiber, thereby achieving the connection function of optical signals and the connection of ordinary electrical signals. It is possible to simultaneously combine these functions in a simple configuration and respond to the advancement of information transmission performance.Furthermore, because the shape of the conventional connector can be used as it is, it is possible to avoid increasing the size of the connector. This has the effect that connection or disconnection can be performed quickly and easily.

Further, the above configuration has the effect that, in information transmission using an optical signal, it is possible to avoid noise due to common grounding that occurs when information is transmitted using an electrical signal.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 shows a pin jack, Figure a is a front view, Figure b is a side view, Figure c is a side view, and Figure c is a side view. FIG. 2 shows a pin plug, FIG. 2 shows a front view, FIG. 4 shows a side view, FIGS. The figure is a side view of the pin jack, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the pin plug. 1 is a pin jack (female connection member), 4 is a jack center conductor, 5 is an optical element, 8 is a pin plug (male connection member), 9 is a plug center pin (connection protrusion),
12 is an optical fiber, 14 is a center contact portion, and 16 is a support portion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A female connection is provided with a male connecting member having a connecting protrusion, and a central conductor having a central contact portion that elastically clamps the connecting protrusion and a fulcrum portion that integrates the central contact portions. A member is provided,
In the connector for connecting one electrical system by fitting the male connecting member and the female connecting member, the male connecting member has a tip of an optical fiber exposed at a tip of a connecting protrusion. In addition to providing
The female connecting member is provided with an optical element on the optical axis of the optical signal transmitted and received at the tip of the optical fiber, and a fulcrum part of the central conductor is provided with an optical element on the optical axis of the optical signal transmitted and received at the tip of the optical fiber. A connector characterized in that a recess is formed to enable transmission and reception.