JPS6341085A - Photo-connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the reliability by removing a mechanical contact by a method wherein the function of a connector and an interface circuit is integrated by incorporating a photo-coupler in the connector. CONSTITUTION:Light-emitting devices 3 whose number corresponds to the number of input signal lines 11a are incorporated into a plug 1. In addition, light- emitting devices 4 whose number is equal to the number of light-emitting devices are built-in at a receptacle 2 so that a light signal can be received. That is, if any pressure is applied to the input signal lines 11a and an electric current flows into the light-emitting devices 3 at the plug 1, the light-emitting devices 3 give forth light and the light is transmitted to the light-receiving devices 4 at the receptacle 2. Therefore, the light-receiving devices 4 are turned to the state of ON, and the electric current flows to output lines 11c so that an output in proportion to the primary side of a connector can be obtained at the secondary side of the connector. If the function of the connector and an interface circuit is integrated and any mechanical contact inside the connector is removed, it is possible to obtain the connector which has high reliability, is compact and of low-cost as a device.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a method for insulating or converting levels between input signal lines and internal lines of electronic equipment (digital circuits), etc. The present invention relates to connectors, and particularly to photoelectric conversion type connectors (photo connectors).

[Prior Art] FIG. 3 shows an example of a configuration for converting an input signal line into an isolated internal line of an electronic device. In FIG. 3, a portion indicated by the symbol A indicates an external portion of the electronic device (hereinafter referred to as the device), and a portion indicated by the symbol B indicates an internal portion of the device. The connector glue receptacle 7 is mechanically attached to the device side, and the plug 6 of the connector can be removably fitted into the receptacle 7.

In FIG. 3, an input electrical signal from an input signal line 11a is transmitted to a signal line 11b inside the device through contact with a socket contact 8 of a plug 6 or a pin contact 9 of a receptacle 7. Next, this electrical signal is floated via the photocoupler 12 of the interface circuit 10 and transmitted to the device internal line 11c.

In addition, in FIG. 3, 5 is a positioning key.

Further, as this interface circuit 10, it is also possible to use a relay or the like instead of the photocoupler 12.

[The problem that the invention aims to solve] However, with such conventional connectors.

Since signals are only transmitted by mechanically connecting the input and output lines, an interface circuit must be provided if you want to isolate the input and output lines of the device or convert the level. There were some problems, such as:

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when it is desired to isolate the input/output line and the internal line of the device or to convert the level, by incorporating a photocoupler into the connector. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a photo connector that combines the functions of a connector and an interface circuit and eliminates mechanical contact parts.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A photo connector according to the present invention includes a plug and a receptacle that fits with the plug, and a light emitting element that converts an input electrical signal into an optical signal in one of the plug and the receptacle. In addition, the other of the plug and receptacle has a built-in light-receiving element that receives an optical signal from the light-emitting element and converts it into an output electrical signal.

[Function] In the photo connector of this invention, a human-powered electric signal is converted into an optical signal by a light emitting element in the plug or receptacle, and then a light receiving element in the receptacle or plug receives this optical signal and converts it into an output electric signal. be done.

This converts electrical signals into optical signals and back into electrical signals within the connector.

[Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a photo connector as an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. A number of light emitting elements 3 corresponding to the number of light emitting elements 3 are built-in.

Further, on the receptacle 2 side, the light receiving element 4 is connected to the light emitting element 3.
The same number of light emitting elements 3 are built in to receive optical signals from the light emitting elements 3. That is, the light receiving element 4 is installed in the receptacle 2 opposite to the light emitting direction of the light emitting element 3 in the plug 1.

In this way, the connector has a built-in photocoupler.

Note that when the plug 1 and the receptacle 2 are fitted together,
The fitting surfaces of the plug 1 and the receptacle 2 have a structure that blocks light from the outside.

In addition, in FIG. 1, 5 indicates the plug 1 and the receptacle 2.
This is a positioning key when fitting the two.

Further, A is an external part of the device, and B is an internal part of the device.

The operation of this photo connector will be explained below using FIG. 2. When the input signal line 11a is pressurized and current flows through the light emitting element 3 on the plug 1 side.

The light emitting element 3 emits light, and the light is transmitted to the light receiving element 4 on the receptacle 2 side. As a result, the light-receiving element 4 is turned on, a current flows through the output line 11c, and an output corresponding to that on the primary side of the connector is obtained on the secondary side of the connector.

In addition, in FIG. 2, R1 and R2 indicate resistance.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example of a connector for taking in signals from the outside of the device to the inside of the device was shown, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a connector for taking out signals from the inside of the device to the outside of the device. In this case, the light emitting element 3 is built in on the beam receptacle 2 side, and the light receiving element 4 is built in on the plug 1 side.

In the above embodiment, a first transistor is used as the light receiving element 4, but a photo rC, a Darlington photo transistor, etc. can also be used depending on the purpose.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the connector and interface circuit functions are integrated into one, and the mechanical contact part within the connector is eliminated, making the device highly reliable, compact, and inexpensive. It has the effect of getting things 6

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a photo connector as an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an electric circuit diagram showing an example of the use of this photo connector, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional connector and an interface circuit. FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram showing a combined example. In the figure, 1 - plug, 2 - receptacle, 3 - light emitting element, 4 - light receiving element, 1la - human input signal line, 11
b-・Output signal line. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has a plug and a receptacle that fits with the plug, and one of the plug and receptacle has a built-in light emitting element that converts an input electrical signal into an optical signal, and the other of the plug and receptacle has a built-in light emitting element. A photo connector characterized by having a built-in light-receiving element that receives an optical signal from the camera and converts it into an output electrical signal.