JPH0757819A - Connector with connection confirming function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily confirm connection of a connector and readily prevent connection deficiency without deteriorating electric characteristics of a device or the like. CONSTITUTION:A connector comprises a receptacle and a plug 2 fitted and connected to the receptacle 1. A light transmitting through hole cut or released by the plug 2 is formed on the receptacle 1. A light emitting element 4 of a light sensor is disposed at one opening of the through-hole while a light receiving element 5 is provided at the other opening. When the light sensor detects that light passing through the through hole is cut off, the connected state of the connector is confirmed and a power source of an inside circuit is controlled into an electrified state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector with a connection confirmation function for confirming a connection state between a receptacle and a plug by an optical sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a connector to be connected to an electronic device or the like, the connection state has been visually confirmed by an operator. However, in this visual confirmation of the connection state of the connector, the operator often misses the connection failure due to mistakes, carelessness, and the like, which causes the electrical contact failure of the electronic device or the like.

Therefore, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-49775, a piezoelectric rubber is connected to the roots of two of a plurality of pins which are erected on a male connector and inserted into a female connector for connection. A connector with a connection confirmation function has been proposed in which a light emitting means and a power source are connected in series to the two pins (see FIG. 2).

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-278111, a failure in electrical connection between a first connector and a second connector fitted to the first connector is described in each connector. A connector disconnection detection circuit has been proposed in which a contact is provided, a signal is input from one of the contacts and output from the other, and the determination is made based on the magnitude of the signal.

Further, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-25875, the fitting state of the connector is determined by a fitting detection signal which is inserted into and output from a fitting detection plug provided on each of the male and female sides of the connector. A connector having a function of electrically checking has been proposed.

[0006]

However, these Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Nos. 63-49775 and 63-278111.
In each of the technologies described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-25875 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-258875, confirmation of the connection state of the connector is electrically detected by using a connector pin or the like for detection of fitting. It was done by doing. For this reason, switching noise is likely to occur due to electrical connection on the contact pin for mating detection, etc., especially for coaxial connectors for high-frequency transmission, which affects the electrical characteristics of the entire device such as electronic equipment or the panel unit. The problem of causing

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the problems of the prior art, and it is possible to confirm the connection of the connector and prevent the connection failure without damaging the electrical characteristics of the device or the like. An object is to provide a connector with a connection confirmation function that can be easily performed.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, a connector with a connection confirmation function of the present invention is a connector comprising a receptacle and a plug fitted and connected to the receptacle, wherein the plug is attached to the receptacle. In addition to providing a through hole for optical transmission that is blocked and released by the above, the light emitting element of the light sensor is provided in one opening of this through hole, and the light receiving element is provided in the other opening. When the confirmation means detects that the light passing through the through hole is blocked by the optical sensor,
The configuration is a control circuit that turns on the power switch to the internal circuit.

[0009]

According to the above structure, the connection state between the receptacle and the plug can be detected by the optical sensor, and the internal circuit power supply can be controlled by the control circuit according to the detection result of the connection state.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a connector with a connection confirmation function according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the entire device of a connector with a connection confirmation function according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a non-connected state and a connected state of a connector portion. In these figures, reference numeral 1 is a receptacle connected to an electronic device or the like, and a plug 2 is fitted and connected thereto. At the rear end of the receptacle 1 into which the plug 2 is inserted, a minimum through hole 3 for an optical transmission line is formed in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the plug 2. The through hole 3 is provided at a position slightly off the center of the receptacle 1 so as not to be blocked by the connector pin 1a of the receptacle 1. A light emitting element 4 of the light sensor is provided in one opening of the through hole 3, and a light receiving element 5 is provided in the other opening.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an optical sensor drive circuit, which is connected to the light emitting element 4 and the light receiving element 5, respectively, and is driven by a device power supply 14 which supplies power to the internal circuit 15. 1
2 is a control circuit as a confirmation means for confirming the connection state,
It is connected to the light receiving element 5. The control circuit 12 confirms that the receptacle 1 and the plug 2 are connected when the light from the light emitting element 4 to the light receiving element 5 is blocked, and controls to turn on the switch 13 based on this confirmation. To do.

The connector with a connection confirmation function of the present invention having such a structure operates as follows. First, when the device power supply 14 is turned on, the optical sensor drive circuit 11 is driven, and light is emitted from the light emitting element 4 to the light receiving element 5 through the through hole 3 provided in the receptacle 1. The light emitted from the light emitting element 4 is not detected by the light receiving element 5 when the plug 2 is completely connected to the receptacle 1 because the through hole 3 is blocked by the plug 2. On the other hand, when the connection of the plug 2 is incomplete, the light from the light emitting element 4 passes through the through hole 3 and is detected by the light receiving element 5. When the light receiving element 5 is detecting the light from the light emitting element 4, the control circuit 12 operates to control the switch 13 to be in the OFF state. When the light receiving element 5 does not detect the light, the switch 13 is activated. Is controlled to the ON state.

Here, the device power supply 14 and the internal circuit 15 are
Since it is connected via the switch 13, the device power supply 1
Power supply from 4 to the internal circuit 15 is also controlled by the control circuit 12. That is, unless the plug 2 is completely and surely connected to the receptacle 1, power is not supplied from the device power supply 14 to the internal circuit 15.
Therefore, the device itself will not operate. With this, the confirmation of the connection state between the receptacle 1 and the plug 2 is
It can be seen at a glance by seeing whether the device power supply 14 is supplying power to the internal circuit 15, and thus
Poor connection of the connector can be easily prevented. Moreover, since it is detected by the optical sensor, it has no influence on the electrical characteristics of the device. Therefore,
It is especially suitable for high-frequency transmission coaxial connectors that are easily affected by switching noise due to electrical connection.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and surely confirm the connection of the connector and prevent the connection failure without damaging the electrical characteristics of the device or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an entire apparatus showing an embodiment of a connector with a connection confirmation function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a non-connected state and a connected state of a connector portion.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional connector with a connection confirmation function.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Receptacle 2 Plug 3 Through hole 4 Light emitting element 5 Light receiving element 11 Optical sensor drive circuit 12 Control circuit 13 Switch 14 Device power supply 15 Content circuit 20 Female connector 21 pin 22 Piezoelectric rubber 23 Male connector 24 LED R Resistance E power supply

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connector comprising a receptacle and a plug fitted and connected to the receptacle, wherein the receptacle is provided with a through hole for optical transmission which is blocked and released by the plug, and one of the through holes is provided. The light emitting element of the light sensor is provided in the opening of the and the light receiving element is provided in the other opening, and when the light sensor detects that the light passing through the through hole is blocked, the connection state of the connector is confirmed. A connector with a connection confirmation function, characterized in that it is provided with a confirmation means. 2. The connection according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation means is a control circuit for turning on a power switch to an internal circuit when the light sensor detects that light passing through the through hole is blocked. Connector with confirmation function.