JPH057686B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a connector for connecting optical fibers,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a photoelectric composite connector that connects an optical fiber and an electric wire together when the electric wire is arranged in parallel with the optical fiber.

(Prior Art) In recent years, optical communication, which uses light as an information transmission medium and transmits information by sending signals of this light through optical fibers, has come into widespread use.
Furthermore, various connectors for connecting this optical fiber to a transmitting device, a receiving device, etc., or for connecting at the intermediate portion of the optical fiber have been proposed and put into practical use.

When transmitting signals using such optical fibers, both the transmitting device and the receiving device require power for photoelectric conversion for transmitting and receiving, so electric wires are connected in parallel with the optical fiber. A conventional method is to provide a power source on either the transmitting side or the receiving side by transmitting electric power through the electric wire. In such cases, it is better to provide a connector that integrates the optical fiber connector and the electric wire connector than to provide them separately, and for this reason, optoelectronic composite connectors that integrate the two have traditionally been used. Various proposals have been made.

However, these conventional photoelectric composite connectors have separate optical fiber terminals (ferrules) and electrical wire terminals, and are simply an optical fiber connector and an electrical connector arranged in a single housing. . For this reason, there are problems in that the structure of the connector is complicated, the assembly work of the connector tends to be complicated, it is difficult to downsize the connector, and the price tends to increase.

(Object of the Invention) In view of these problems, the present invention provides a photoelectric composite connector that can transmit and receive optical signals and electric power in one line, and facilitates the assembly work of the connector and reduces the size and size of the connector. The purpose of this is to reduce the number of products and the price.

(Structure of the Invention) The photoelectric composite connector of the present invention includes a pair of mating connector members each having a pair of light emitting/light receiving elements and an electronic circuit for driving the light emitting/light receiving elements, which are provided at positions separated from each other, In a pair of photoelectric composite connectors that electrically and optically connect these two separated positions to each other via an electric wire and an optical fiber cable, a longitudinal direction provided at each end of the electric wire and the optical fiber cable is provided. an electrical connection terminal having substantially C-shaped joining arms spaced apart from each other; an electrically conductive ferrule provided at each end of the optical fiber cable; and an electrically conductive ferrule provided at each end of the electrical wire and the optical fiber cable a case that holds a connection terminal and the ferrule together, one of the joining arms connects the core wire of the electric wire and the ferrule by crimping, and the other side of the joining arm connects the insulating jacket of the electric wire and the optical fiber cable. is crimped and fixed, and transmits an optical signal between the light emitting/light receiving elements via the optical fiber cable, and is located at one of the separated positions via the electric wire, the ferrule, and a receptacle connected to the ferrule. This device is characterized in that power from the power source is supplied to the other device.

(Example) Preferred examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a photoelectric composite connector member 10 according to the present invention and a mating connector member 30 to which this member is connected. The photoelectric composite connector member 10 has two connectors for transmitting and receiving optical signals. One end of the optical fiber cables 1, 1 is connected to the other end of the optical fiber cable 1, 1, and one end of an electric wire 2, 2 for supplying power to a device to which the other end of the optical fiber cable 1, 1 is connected is connected. . The mating connector member 30 is fixedly held on the printed wiring board 50, and has a light emitting element 3 for transmitting an optical signal inside.
1 and a light receiving element 32 for receiving the transmitted optical signal. The plan sectional view of FIG. 2 and the front sectional view of FIG. 3 show the state in which the photoelectric composite connector member 10 and the mating connector member 30 are joined. Explain.

The end of the optical fiber cable 1 is received and held in a ferrule 11 as shown in FIG. It has reached this point. This ferrule 11
is made by tin-plating or gold-plating a conductive material such as brass, and is fixedly held in the case 13 with the end of the optical fiber cable 1 joined, with its tip protruding toward the front of the case. Further, the end portion of the electric wire 2 attached to the optical fiber cable 1 is held within the photoelectric composite connector member 10 by an electrical connection terminal 12 made of a conductive material. This electrical connection terminal 12 is attached to the ferrule 11, and thereby not only fixes and holds the end of the electric wire 2, but also makes an electrical connection between the core wire 2a of the electric wire 2 and the ferrule 11. ing. The perspective view of FIG. 5 shows the connecting portion of the electrical connection terminal 12, and as shown in this figure, the four substantially C-shaped joining arms 12a to 12d of the electrical connection terminal 12 are attached to the ferrules 11 and 12, respectively. , optical fiber cable 1, core wire 2a of electric wire 2
and holds the optical fiber 1 and the electric wire 2 attached to the ferrule 11 by holding the sheathing part of the electric wire 2 and engaging with them, and the ferrule 11 and the core wire 2
Make an electrical connection with a. 6 is a perspective view showing a different example of the electrical connection terminal. In this case, the electrical connection terminal 12' has two joining arms 12a', 12b', and the joining arm 12a' is connected to the ferrule 11. and the core wire 2a together to hold and electrically connect them, and connect the joining arm 1.
2b' holds the optical fiber cable 1 and the electric wire 2 together.

When the photoelectric composite connector member 10 configured as described above is joined to the mating connector member 30,
The front portion of the ferrule 11 protruding forward within the photoelectric composite connector member 10 is inserted into the receptacle 33 of the mating connector member 30. This causes the ferrule 11 to act as an electrical contact and connect the ferrule 11 to the receptacle 33.
The receptacle 33 and the core wire 2a of the electric wire 2 are electrically connected to each other. on the other hand,
The front end surface of the ferrule 11 faces the light emitting element 31 or the light receiving element 32 when inserted into the receptacle 33, and the core 1a of the optical fiber cable is disposed through the ferrule 11. The optical signal from the light emitting element 31 can be sent into the optical fiber cable 1, and the optical signal sent through the optical fiber cable 1 can be received by the light receiving element 32. That is,
By using the photoelectric composite connector member 10, not only can the optical fiber cable 1 be held by the ferrule 11 to transmit and receive optical signals, but also the ferrule 11 can act as an electrical contact to transmit and receive power at the same time. can.

A specific example of transmitting and receiving optical signals and power using such a photoelectric composite connector is shown in Part 7.
This will be explained based on the diagram and FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a case where optoelectronic composite connector members 10 according to the present invention are joined to both ends of the optical fiber cable 1. A mating connector member 30 to which the photoelectric composite connector member 10 at the left end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected has a light emitting element 31, and a mating connector member 30' to which the right photoelectric composite connector member 11' is connected. has a light receiving element 32. Therefore, the left ferrule 11 is inserted into the left receptacle 33, and its front end surface is connected to the light emitting element 31.
The right ferrule 11' is inserted into the right receptacle 33' and its front end face faces the light receiving element 32, and the optical signal emitted from the light emitting element 31 passes through the optical fiber cable 1 to the light receiving element. 32 and received by the light receiving element 32.

On the other hand, the receptacles 33, 33' on both sides receive the ferrules 11, 11', respectively, and are in contact with the ferrules to be electrically connected.
1' and electrical wire 2.
Therefore, even if the power source is only on the left side, for example, power can be sent from the left receptacle 33 to the right receptacle 33', and in this way, a separate power source is provided for operating the electric circuit and light receiving element 32 on the right side. There's no need.

Furthermore, FIG. 8 shows an example of a case where two optical fiber cables 1 are used in series and the connection is made at the middle part. Ferrule 11,1
A relay connector having a conductive sleeve 40 that can be inserted and received from both sides is used, and the front end surfaces of both ferrules 11, 11' are faced to each other within this sleeve 40, and the ferrules 11 and 11' are inserted from one ferrule side to the other. This makes it possible to transmit optical signals to the ferrule side, and also allows electrical connection between both ferrules 11 and 11' to be made by means of the sleeve 40.

Next, an example of a device for transmitting information by optical signals using the photoelectric composite connector member according to the present invention will be described based on FIG. 9.

This device is constructed by connecting a transmitting device 5 and a receiving device 5' via an optical fiber cable 1 for transmitting optical signals. In this device, the power source 7 is only placed in the transmitting device 5, and therefore the light receiving element 32 and the stabilizing circuit 8 in the receiving device 5' are
An electric wire 2 for supplying operating power to the electronic circuit 9 is provided in parallel with the optical fiber cable 1. The ends of the optical fiber cable 1 and the electric wire 2 are connected to the transmitting and receiving devices 5, 5' by means of the above-mentioned photoelectric composite connector members 10, 10' according to the present invention. The transmitting device 5 includes a light emitting element 31 facing the front end surface of the ferrule 11 in the photoelectric composite connector member 10, and an electronic circuit 6 that sends an electric signal to the light emitting element 31 to generate a predetermined optical signal.
It also includes a power source 7 for supplying operating power to the light emitting element 31 and the electronic circuit 6. Therefore, based on the electrical signal from the electronic circuit 6, the light emitting element 31
emits light, and a predetermined optical signal resulting from this light emission is sent to the optical fiber cable 1 via the ferrule 11 facing the light emitting element 31. Further, the power source 7 is connected to a receptacle 33 in the photoelectric composite connector member 10, and power from the power source 7 is sent to the electric wire 2 via the ferrule 11.

On the other hand, the receiving device 5' includes a light receiving element 32, a stabilizing circuit 8, and an electronic circuit 9. The stabilizing circuit 8 stabilizes the power from the power source 7 sent through the electric wire 2 in order to operate the light receiving element 32 and the electronic circuit 9. The light receiving element 32 and the electronic circuit 9 are activated. The light receiving element 32 faces the front end surface of the ferrule 11' in the photoelectric composite connector member 10' on the left side of the figure, and receives an optical signal sent from the transmitting device 5 via the optical fiber cable 1. It performs photoelectric conversion, and the electrical signal thus converted is read by the electronic circuit 9.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the photoelectric composite connector of the present invention has a ferrule for holding an optical fiber cable by a substantially C-shaped joining arm of an electrical connection terminal;
The optical fiber cable, the insulating jacket and core wire of the electric wire are crimped and held in the case, and the ferrule is configured to connect with the light emitting/light receiving element and the receptacle to establish an optical and electrical connection. Therefore, the following effects are achieved.

In other words, the ferrule, the core wire of the optical fiber cable, and the insulating jacket are maintained in a stress-relaxed state, so their connections are protected from external forces caused by connector operation, improving reliability and stability. . In addition, it is easy to manufacture with a small number of parts and has a remarkable effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a photoelectric composite connector member and a mating connector member according to the present invention, Figs. 2 and 3 are a plan sectional view and a front sectional view showing a state in which both the above connector members are connected, and Fig. 4. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a ferrule that receives and holds an optical fiber cable, FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing examples of electrical connection terminals, and FIGS. FIG. 9 is a front view showing an example of fiber cable connection, and a schematic circuit diagram showing an apparatus for transmitting information by optical signals using the photoelectric composite connector member of the present invention. 1... Optical fiber cable, 2... Electric wire, 2a
... Core wire, 6, 9 ... Electronic circuit, 7 ... Power supply, 1
1...Ferrule, 12...Electrical connection terminal, 12
a, 12b, 12c, 12d...joint arm, 1
3... Case, 30... Mating connector member, 31
...Light emitting element, 32... Light receiving element, 33... Receptacle.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of mating connector members each having a pair of light emitting/light receiving elements and an electronic circuit for driving the light emitting/light receiving elements are provided at positions separated from each other,
In a pair of photoelectric composite connectors that electrically and optically connect these two separated positions to each other via an electric wire and an optical fiber cable, a longitudinal direction provided at each end of the electric wire and the optical fiber cable is provided. an electrical connection terminal having substantially C-shaped joining arms spaced apart from each other; a conductive ferrule provided at each end of the optical fiber cable; and an electrical connection terminal provided at each end of the electrical wire and the optical fiber cable. a case that holds a connection terminal and the ferrule together, one of the connecting arms connects the core wire of the electric wire and the ferrule by crimping, and the other side of the connecting arm connects the insulating jacket of the electric wire and the optical fiber cable. is crimped and fixed, and transmits an optical signal between the light emitting/light receiving elements via the optical fiber cable, and is located at one of the separated positions via the electric wire, the ferrule, and a receptacle connected to the ferrule. A photoelectric composite connector characterized by supplying power from one power source to the other.