TW201704795A - Plug connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A plug connector including an insulative housing defining a cavity to receive an optical fiber assembly therein, and a plurality of passageways to receive a plurality of terminals therein. A printed circuit board is located behind the terminals and connected to the terminals. An electrical cable is mounted to a rear portion of the circuit board. The whole optical fiber assembly is received within the housing and is somewhat back and forth moveable along a front-to-back direction for buffering for compliantly coupling with another optical fiber assembly built within the complementary receptacle connector when the plug connector is inserted into the complementary receptacle connector. The optical fiber assembly includes a pair of mating sleeves enclosing a front GRIN lens and a rear guide-in cylinder wherein a corresponding fiber is inserted into the corresponding guide-in cylinder.

Description

Plug connector

The present invention relates to a plug connector, and more particularly to a connector having an RJ45 structure and also equipped with a fiber optic device so that it can transmit electrical signals and optical signals.

U.S. Patent No. 8,708,754 discloses a plug connector having the structure of a conventional RJ45 and capable of transmitting both electrical and optical signals. However, this design can only be provided with two fibers and does not provide spring force to ensure mating with the mating fiber plug connector and the RJ connector. Moreover, when the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector, the fiber of the receptacle connector and the fiber of the plug connector need to be precisely aligned.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a plug connector in which the fibers of the fiber optic and socket connectors do not need to be precisely aligned.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is achieved by the following technical means: a plug connector is provided, comprising: an insulating body, an electrical component, a fiber optic component and a deflectable latch. The insulating body is provided with a receiving groove that extends forwardly through the front end surface of the insulating body for connecting with an external object in the front-rear direction. The plurality of channels are spaced apart from the receiving slots in a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The electrical component is received in the receiving slot, and the electrical component comprises a circuit board and a plurality of terminals connected to the circuit board, and the contact portion of each terminal extends into the corresponding channel to interface with the external object in a vertical direction. The optical fiber component is received in the receiving groove, and is disposed on the insulating body opposite to the plurality of terminals. The optical fiber component is located between the lock tail and the terminal in the vertical direction. The optical fiber module includes a base block, at least one cover rotatably mounted on the base block, one pair of through holes formed on the base block, and a pair of butt sleeves disposed in the corresponding through holes, each butt sleeve The tube houses a self-focusing lens and a guided glass cylinder, the self-focusing lens being located at the front end of the guided glass cylinder.

In contrast to the prior art, the present invention provides a self-focusing lens such that the fiber of the plug connector does not require precise alignment of the fibers of the receptacle connector.

The first figure is a front perspective view of a plug connector in accordance with the present invention.

The second figure is a front exploded perspective view of the plug connector shown in the first figure.

The third figure is a rear perspective exploded view of the plug connector shown in the first figure.

The fourth figure is a further front perspective exploded view of the plug connector shown in the second figure.

Figure 5 is a further rear perspective exploded view of the plug connector shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the fiber optic assembly of the plug connector shown in Figure 1 with the cover rotated open.

The seventh figure is a rear perspective exploded view of the fiber optic assembly shown in the sixth figure.

The eighth figure is a further rear perspective exploded view of the fiber optic assembly shown in the sixth figure.

The ninth drawing is a further front perspective exploded view of the fiber optic assembly shown in the sixth figure.

The tenth figure is a rear perspective exploded view of the fiber optic assembly shown in the ninth figure.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector shown in the first figure taken along line XI-XI.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector shown in the first figure taken along the line XII-XII.

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector shown in the first figure taken along the line XIII-XIII.

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector shown in the first figure taken along the line XIV-XIV.

The fifteenth diagram is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector shown in the first figure along the line XV-XV.

Referring to Figures 1 through 15, together, a plug connector 10 is used to interface with a receptacle connector. The plug connector 10 includes an insulative housing 12 that is provided with a diaphragm 14 and an electric socket 16 stacked in a vertical direction. The receiving groove 15 is disposed in the insulative housing 12 and penetrates the aperture 14 and the electric socket 16 . The elastic locking tail 18 is integrally formed on the insulative housing 12 and is close to the aperture 14 in the vertical direction away from the electric socket 16. The plurality of channels 20 extend in the front-rear direction and are disposed adjacent to the battery 16 of the insulative housing 12. The shape of the insulative housing 12 is identical to that of the RJ-45 receptacle connector.

The fiber optic assembly 30 includes a base block 32, a pair of through holes 34 extending in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of grooves 36 located at the rear end of the through hole 34 and aligned with the corresponding through holes 34. The groove 36 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the through hole 34 and communicates with the corresponding through hole 34 in the front-rear direction. A pair of latching pins 40 are disposed on opposite sides of the base block 32. A pair of rotating shafts 44 are formed on opposite sides of the base block 32 and are located in front of the pair of latching pins 40. The three rotating shafts 44 are aligned in the lateral direction. A pair of ceramic/glass butt sleeves 33 are each closely received/fixed in a corresponding one of the through holes 34. The front self-focusing lens (GRIN lens) 37 and the rear-guide glass cylinder 35 are housed together in the corresponding glass butt sleeves 33 and are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction, wherein the rear-guide glass cylinder 35 is formed with a passage 39 to The core used to house the optical fiber (described later). A pair of holes 29 are formed in the front end face of the base block 32 for receiving corresponding positioning posts of the docking receptacle connector (not shown).

A pair of covers 42 are axially mounted to the base block 32 and are rotatable about a rotary shaft 44, each of which is provided with a hole 41 for receiving the rotary shaft 44. In each of the covers 42, a slit 38 is formed in the bottom surface of the cover and aligned with the corresponding groove 36 in the front-rear direction. A pair of deflectable latches 46 are provided on opposite sides of the cover 42 for locking the corresponding latch openings 13 in the insulative housing 12. A pair of locking holes 48 are provided on the side for locking with the locking pin 40 of the base block 32. The metal plate 52 is attached to the rear end surface of the cover 42, and includes a pair of elastic pieces 54. Notably, the metal plate 52 can also be fabricated as two separate springs attached to the respective cover 42.

A fiber optic ribbon 56 includes a pair of single mode fibers 58 arranged side by side in a lateral direction, each single mode fiber 58 including a core 57, an outer skin 59 surrounding the outer core 57, and an outer sleeve 55 surrounding the outer skin 59, wherein the core 57 It is housed in a corresponding guiding passage 39, and the front end of the inner core 57 abuts against the corresponding front self-focusing lens 37. The inner core 57 is received in the through hole 34, and the outer skin 59 is received in the corresponding groove 36 and the corresponding slot 38. The outer skin 59 is received in the corresponding groove 36, and the outer sleeve 55 is received in the corresponding slot 38.

The electrical component 60 is located below the fiber optic assembly 30 in a vertical direction and includes a circuit board 62, a plurality of terminals 64 coupled to the front end region of the circuit board 62, and a plurality of cables 66 coupled to the plurality of blade terminals 67. A plurality of blade terminals 67 are connected to the rear end region of the corresponding circuit board 62. The retaining clip 70 is adapted to be inserted into the slot 68 of the insulative housing 12 in a vertical direction.

During the assembly process, the electrical component 60 is inserted into the receiving slot 15 from the rear end of the insulative housing 12 , the terminal 64 is exposed to the electric socket 16 , and the optical fiber component 30 is inserted into the receiving slot 15 from the rear end of the insulative housing 12 . The front end of the base block 32 protrudes forward slightly beyond the front end surface of the insulative housing 12 to allow the front autofocus lens 37 to communicate with the outside in the front-rear direction. At the same time, the deflectable latch 46 is locked in the corresponding latch opening 13 to prevent the fiber optic assembly 30 from moving rearwardly within the receiving slot 15. On the other hand, the tab 54 abuts against the retaining clip 70 to urge the entire fiber optic assembly 30 forward. It can be understood that, due to the arrangement of the elastic piece 54, the base block 32 and the associated cover 42 can be slightly moved forward and backward in the front-rear direction, thereby providing a cushioning effect. Thus, the fiber optic assembly 30 allows the fiber optic assembly 30 to move slightly forward and backward within the insulative housing 12 when the mating connector is docked.

10‧‧‧ plug connector

12‧‧‧Insulated body

13‧‧‧Lock opening

14‧‧‧Light

15‧‧‧ Containing trough

16‧‧‧Electricity

18‧‧‧Flexible lock tail

20‧‧‧ channel

29‧‧‧ hole

30‧‧‧Fiber optic components

32‧‧‧Base block

33‧‧‧Docking casing

34‧‧‧through hole

35‧‧‧ glass cylinder

36‧‧‧ trench

37‧‧‧ Self-focusing lens

38‧‧‧ slot

39‧‧‧ channel

40‧‧‧Lock pin

41‧‧‧ hole

42‧‧‧ cover

44‧‧‧Rotary axis

46‧‧‧ deflectable lock

48‧‧‧Lock hole

52‧‧‧Metal plates

54‧‧‧Shrap

55‧‧‧ coat

56‧‧‧Fiber ribbon

57‧‧‧ kernel

58‧‧‧ single mode fiber

59‧‧‧ 皮皮

60‧‧‧Electrical components

62‧‧‧ boards

64‧‧‧terminal

66‧‧‧ Cable

67‧‧‧blade terminals

68‧‧‧ slot

70‧‧‧fixed clip

no

10‧‧‧ plug connector

12‧‧‧Insulated body

14‧‧‧Light

16‧‧‧Electricity

18‧‧‧Flexible lock tail

20‧‧‧ channel

30‧‧‧Fiber optic components

46‧‧‧ deflectable lock

60‧‧‧Electrical components

Claims (10)

A plug connector comprising:
The insulative housing is provided with a receiving slot and a plurality of passages. The receiving slot extends forwardly through the front end surface of the insulative housing for connecting with an external object in a front-rear direction. The plurality of passages are perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the receiving slot. Interval setting
The electrical component is received in the receiving slot, the electrical component comprises a circuit board and a plurality of terminals connected to the circuit board, and the contact portion of each terminal extends into the corresponding channel to interface with the external object in a vertical direction;
a fiber optic assembly housed in the receiving slot; and a deflectable lock tail disposed on the insulative body at an end opposite the plurality of terminals, the fiber optic assembly being located between the lock tail and the terminal in a vertical direction, wherein the fiber optic The module includes a base block, at least one cover rotatably mounted on the base block, one pair of through holes formed on the base block, and a pair of butt sleeves disposed in the corresponding through holes, each of the butt sleeves being accommodated A self-focusing lens and a guided glass cylinder are located at the front end of the guided glass cylinder. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic assembly is provided with a cushioning device such that the fiber optic assembly moves slightly forward and backward relative to the insulative body in the front-rear direction. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic assembly comprises a plurality of optical fibers respectively inserted into the guided glass cylinder. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the base block is formed with a passage between a pair of through holes, the passage extending in a front-rear direction, the cover comprising two components, each The member is formed with a forked structure for enclosing and axially mounted on a corresponding portion of the base block adjacent the passage. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein each of the terminals has a rod shape and is bent a plurality of times in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. The plug connector of claim 2, wherein the fiber optic assembly comprises a metal plate attached to a rear end surface of the cover, the metal plate comprising a pair of elastic sheets, the metal plate forming the cushioning device. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical component comprises a plurality of blade terminals connected to a rear end region of the circuit board and a plurality of cables respectively connected to the plurality of blade terminals. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic assembly comprises a plurality of optical fibers, each of the optical fibers comprising a core, an outer skin surrounding the outer core, and an outer sheath surrounding the outer skin, the guided glass circle The barrel is provided with a plurality of guiding channels, the core being received in a respective guiding channel, the front end of the core abutting the corresponding self-focusing lens. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the base block has a lock pin, and the cover has a lock hole that engages with the lock pin. The plug connector of claim 1, wherein the front end face of the basic block is provided with a pair of holes for locating the positioning post of the docking socket connector.