JPH0713045A - Connecting cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a connecting cable capable of connecting an electronic equipment without an optical connector by easy handling in the same manner as a metallic cable though it is a cable for transmitting light. CONSTITUTION:This connecting cable is constituted of an optical fiber 6 and electric connectors 7 and 8 respectively provided at both ends of the optical fiber 6, and photoelectric conversion elements 9 and 10 are incorporated to be optically coupled with the optical fiber 6 inside the housings 7a and 8a of the electric connectors 7 and 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connecting cable for connecting electronic devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer or a V
When connecting two electronic devices like connecting a TV receiver to TR, using an optical fiber as a connection cable enables (a) high speed transmission, and (b) length. It has the advantages that it can be transmitted over a distance, (c) is not affected by surrounding electrical noise, and that it maintains a good electromagnetic environment.

By the way, conventionally, when connecting two electronic devices using an optical fiber, the electronic devices are connected in a state as shown in FIG. 6 or 7.

In the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, each electronic device 21,
22 has photoelectric converters 23, 23 respectively built therein, and the optical connector 24 is provided at both ends of the optical fiber 24.
5 and 25 are attached. Then, these optical connectors 25, 25 are detachably connected to the optical connectors 26, 26 at the input / output portions of the electronic devices 21, 22.

Further, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 7, each of the electronic devices 21 and 22 does not have a built-in photoelectric converter, and the electric connectors 27 and 27 are provided at the input / output portions of the electronic devices 21 and 22. ing. Then, these two electronic devices 21,
22 is connected via an optical fiber 24 having optical connectors 25, 25 attached to both ends, and photoelectric converters 28, 28 which are formed separately from the electronic devices 21, 22.
Each of the photoelectric converters 28, 28 includes an optical connector 29 and an electrical connector 30.
4 is connected to the electronic device 21 by the electric connector 30.
22 is connected.

As described above, when connecting electronic devices using optical fibers, it is necessary to connect the optical connectors 25, 26 or 25, 29 together in any conventional example.

[0007]

The above-mentioned coupling of the optical connectors is normally done by the user when necessary. However, in the connection work of the optical transmission system, knowledge about optical components and their characteristics is required. If the user performs the work without considering the characteristics of the optical component, there is a possibility that problems such as an increase in transmission loss and poor connection may occur.

For example, an optical connector needs to have its end face cleaned before coupling, but if this cleaning is not sufficient, transmission loss increases.

Further, the optical connector is fitted into the corresponding optical connector and tightened, but there are individual differences in the tightening force, and it is difficult to always tighten with a constant tightening force. It tends to increase.

As described above, since the transmission loss may increase depending on the coupling state of the optical connector, it is necessary to measure the optical power at both ends of transmission and reception after coupling the optical connector in order to ensure the connection. , It takes more time than connecting with a metal cable.

Further, since the optical axes of the optical connectors must be accurately aligned, an expensive optical connector with high dimensional accuracy is required.

In view of the above conventional problems, the present invention transmits signals through an optical fiber, but by eliminating the need for an optical connector, the electronic device can be handled as easily as a metal cable. The challenge is to enable connections between them.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention comprises an optical fiber and electric connectors provided at both ends thereof, and a photoelectric converter is provided inside a housing of each electric connector. A connection cable was constructed in which the conversion element was incorporated in a state of being optically coupled with the optical fiber.

[0014]

The connection cable having the above structure is connected to the electronic device by coupling the electric connectors. In other words, it is possible to handle with a sense of normal electrical connection without being aware of optical connection. Moreover, since the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion element forming the optical transmission system are optically coupled in advance inside the housing of the electrical connector and are not attached or detached, the transmission loss is not increased.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a connection state of a connection cable according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a first electronic device,
Reference numeral 2 is a second electronic device, and 3 is a connection cable. Each of the electronic devices 1 and 2 does not have a built-in photoelectric converter, and its input / output sections are provided with electrical connectors 4 and 5, respectively. In this example, the first electronic device 1 is the transmitting side and the second electronic device 2 is the receiving side.

The connection cable 3 is a unidirectional transmission cable in this example, and comprises a single optical fiber 6 and electric connectors 7 and 8 provided at both ends thereof. Code 7
Reference numerals a and 8a denote housings for the electrical connectors 7 and 8, respectively, in which the light emitting element 9 is incorporated in one housing 7a and the light receiving element 10 is incorporated in the other housing 8a. The photoelectric conversion element 10 is the optical fiber 6 in each housing 7a, 8a.
Optically coupled to the end of.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the photoelectric conversion element portion of the connection cable. FIGS. 2A and 2B show the photoelectric conversion element 9,
10 shows different examples of the optical coupling structure of the optical fiber 10 and the optical fiber 6.

In the example of FIG. 2A, the end portion of the optical fiber 6 is fixed to the outer cover resin 11 covering the light emitting / receiving portion of the light emitting element 9 or the light receiving element 10 by adhesion, so that the photoelectric conversion element 9, The optical fiber 10 is optically coupled to the end of the optical fiber 6 and mechanically connected to the end of the optical fiber 6.

In the example shown in FIG. 2B, the pair of clamps 12,
The light emitting element 9 or the light receiving element 10 is sandwiched between 12 and the end portion of the optical fiber 6 is sandwiched so as to face the light emitting / receiving portion.

In the above structure, when connecting the first and second electronic devices 1 and 2, the electrical connectors 7 and 8 of the connection cable 3 are replaced with the electrical connectors 4 and 5 of the electronic devices 1 and 2, respectively.
You can connect to.

With this connection, the first electronic device 1
The transmission signal from is converted into an optical signal by the light emitting element 9 in the housing 7a of the electric connector 7 on the same side and is transmitted to the second electronic device 2, and the first and second electronic devices are transmitted. Even if 1 and 2 are separated from each other, the transmission signal is transmitted at high speed without being affected by electrical noise.

In this case, the light emitting element 9, the optical fiber 6 and the light receiving element 10 which form an optical transmission system between the two electronic devices 1 and 2 are optically coupled in a fixed state and are detached. Therefore, there is no possibility that the transmission efficiency will change.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the connection state of the connection cable according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first and second electronic devices 1 and 2 can perform transmission / reception, and the connection cable 3 can perform bidirectional transmission. The main body of the connection cable 3 is composed of two optical fibers 6 and 6, and the housing 7 of each electric connector 7 and 8 is formed.
A pair of photoelectric conversion elements 9 and 10 for light emission and light reception are incorporated in a and 8a, respectively, in a state of being optically coupled to the end portion of the optical fiber 6.

4 and 5 relate to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a connection state of a connection cable, and FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an internal configuration of the electric connector.

In this embodiment, the main body of the connection cable 3 is composed of two or more optical fibers 6, ... And a plurality of metal cables 13, including at least a power supply line. Housing 7a (8a) for each electrical connector 7 (8)
A light emitting element 9 and a light receiving element 10 which are optically coupled to the ends of the optical fiber 6 are incorporated therein. The metal cable 13 is directly connected to the corresponding contact of the electric connector 7 (8), and the power supply line thereof is connected to the power supply terminals of the light emitting element 9 and the light receiving element 10. According to this connection cable 3, one electronic device 1
Power can be supplied from (2).

[0027]

According to the present invention, optical transmission not only enables high-speed transmission without being affected by electrical noise, but also
Since an optical connector is not required, when connecting or disconnecting electronic equipment, you only have to attach and detach the electrical connector, and with the same simple operation as when connecting with a metal cable,
The electronic devices can be connected to each other, the connection is reliable, and problems such as increase in transmission loss and connection failure do not occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a connection state of a connection cable according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a photoelectric conversion element portion of the above embodiment,
(A) and (B) show different examples of optical coupling structures.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a connection state of a connection cable according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a connection state of a connection cable according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the inside of the electrical connector of the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a connection state by a conventional optical fiber.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a connection state by another conventional optical fiber.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Electronic equipment 3 Connection cable 6 Optical fiber 7,8 Electric connector 7a, 8a Housing 9 Light emitting element (photoelectric conversion element) 10 Light receiving element (photoelectric conversion element)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber and an electric connector provided at both ends of the optical fiber. A photoelectric conversion element is incorporated in the housing of each electric connector in a state of being optically coupled to the optical fiber. , Which is a connecting cable.