Optical connector apparatus

• US 10,151,885 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Inventors: Shimazu, Hideto, Hashiguchi, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lepisto, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiem, Erin
• Application Number:
  US14/929,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20160062047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/665 with alkali or alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3855 characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule G02B6/3854 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3877 Split sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4293 hybrid electrical and optical connections for transmitting electrical and optical signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/18 by crimping H01R4/01, H01R4/2495 take precedence; for coaxial cables H01R9/0518

Abstract

An optical connector apparatus includes a connector which is connected to an electro-optical composite cable including an optical fiber and a metal conductor, and a connection object to be connected. The connector is provided with a ferrule which has a conductive portion on at least a part of the surface thereof. The connection object to be connected is provided with an electrically conductive connection member to be connected to the ferrule. The ferrule and the cable are connected by a crimping structure. When the ferrule is inserted in the connection member, the connector and the connection object to be connected are electrically and optically connected to each other. Provided is also an optical connector apparatus which comprises a connector having a plurality of ferrules having distances between the end of the ferrules and the conductive portions so that the timing of the connection of the connector to the object to be connected is delayed, and thus the optical connector apparatus is capable of hot swapping. The connection object to be connected can be a combination of an adapter and a mating connector, or an optical element and an adapter which holds the same, etc.

Claims

1. An optical connector apparatus comprising:

a ferrule; and

a connection object,

wherein;

the ferrule holds an optical fiber of an electro-optical composite cable;

the ferrule itself has a contact portion electrically connected with a metal conductor of the electro-optical composite cable;

the connection object comprises;

an optical element having an optical connection portion;

an insulation housing holding the optical element; and

a connection member held by the housing;

the connection member has a conductive portion and a receiving portion;

when an end portion of the ferrule is inserted into the receiving portion along a predetermined direction, the receiving portion receives the end portion of the ferrule;

the conductive portion is provided on at least an end portion of the receiving portion;

the optical connection portion is provided inside the receiving portion; and

when the end portion of the ferrule is received in the receiving portion, an end surface of the optical fiber faces the optical connection portion in the predetermined direction to make an optical connection between the optical fiber and the optical connection portion while the contact portion is brought into contact with the conductive portion to make an electrical connection between the contact portion and the conductive portion simultaneously with the optical connection.

2. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the receiving portion has a tubular shape, and

the conductive portion is provided on an edge portion of the receiving portion.

3. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the ferrule has a received portion received by the receiving portion and a large diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the received portion;

the contact portion is a contact surface which defines a boundary between the received portion and the large diameter portion; and

the contact surface of the contact portion is brought into contact with the conductive portion in the predetermined direction so that the electrical connection is established therebetween.

4. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection member is made of a conductor.

5. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the connection member further comprises a spring portion which supports the conductive portion so that the conductive portion is displaceable in the predetermined direction.

6. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the receiving portion has a tubular shape, and

the spring portion extends in a peripheral direction of the receiving portion.

7. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a bias member biasing the contact portion of the ferrule toward the receiving portion.

8. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a recess portion is formed on the end portion of the ferrule, and an end of the optical fiber is positioned within the recess portion so as not to project from an end surface of the ferrule.

9. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the recess portion has a fan shape having a central angle of 180 degrees or less when seen from a front end of the ferrule.

10. An optical connector apparatus comprising:

a first connector to be connected with a first electro-optical composite cable;

a second connector to be connected with a second electro-optical composite cable; and

an adaptor relaying a connection between the first connector and the second connector,

wherein;

the first electro-optical composite cable comprises a first optical fiber and a first metal conductor;

the second electro-optical composite cable comprises a second optical fiber and a second metal conductor;

the first connector comprises a first ferrule to hold the first optical fiber;

the first ferrule itself has a first contact portion to be electrically connected with the first metal conductor;

the second connector comprises a second ferrule to hold the second optical fiber;

the second ferrule itself has a second contact portion to be electrically connected with the second metal conductor;

the adaptor comprises an adaptor housing and a connection member;

the adaptor housing is made of insulative material;

the connection member is held by the adaptor housing;

the connection member comprises a receiving portion and first and second conductive portions;

the receiving portion is configured to receive end portions of the first and the second ferrules in a predetermined direction;

the first and the second conductive portions are provided on opposite ends of the connection member in the predetermined direction; and

when the end portions of the first and the second ferrules are received in the receiving portion, end surfaces of the first and the second optical fibers face each other in the predetermined direction to make an optical connection between the first and the second optical fibers while the first contact portion and the second contact portion are brought into contact with the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, respectively, to make an electrical connection between the first metal conductor and the second metal conductor simultaneously with the optical connection.

11. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the connection member is made of conductive material.

12. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein:

the connection member further comprises first and second spring portions; and

the first and the second spring portions support the first and the second conductive portions, respectively, so that the first and the second conductive portions are displaceable in the predetermined direction.

13. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the receiving portion has a tubular shape, and the first and the second spring portions extend in a peripheral direction of the receiving portion.

14. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the first ferrule has a first received portion received by the receiving portion and a first large diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first received portion;

the first contact portion is a first contact surface which defines a boundary between the first received portion and the first large diameter portion;

the second ferrule has a second received portion received by the receiving portion and a second large diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the second received portion;

the second contact portion is a second contact surface which defines a boundary between the second received portion and the second large diameter portion; and

the first contact surface of the first contact portion and the second contact surface of the second contact portion are brought into contact with the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, respectively, in the predetermined direction so that the electrical connection is established between the first metal conductor and the second metal conductor.