Optical connector apparatus

• US 10,191,222 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Inventors: Hashiguchi, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lepisto, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiem, Erin
• Application Number:
  US14/930,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20160062049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• 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 connectable with a connection member along a predetermined direction, the connection member comprising at least two grip portions each having conductivity, and the optical connector comprising a connector housing, a first ferrule having a first end surface, and a second ferrule having a second end surface, wherein:

the connector housing arranges the first ferrule and the second ferrule along a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction,

the first end surface and the second end surface face a same orientation as each other in the predetermined direction, and the first end surface and the second end surface do not face each other,

the first ferrule is provided with a first conductive portion,

when the optical connector is connected to the connection member, one of the grip portions grips the first conductive portion so as to be electrically connected with the first conductive portion,

the second ferrule is provided with a second conductive portion,

when the optical connector is connected to the connection member, the other one of the grip portions grips the second conductive portion so as to be electrically connected with the second conductive portion, and

in the predetermined direction, a distance between the first end surface and the first conductive portion is different from another distance between the second end surface and the second conductive portion.

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

the first ferrule comprises a first end portion having a circular cylinder-like shape, the first end portion having a first outer peripheral surface and the first end surface,

the second ferrule comprises a second end portion having a circular cylinder-like shape, the second end portion having a second outer peripheral surface and the second end surface,

the first conductive portion is directly formed on at least a part of the first outer peripheral surface, and

the second conductive portion is directly formed on a part of the second outer peripheral surface, the location of the second conductive portion being distinct from the second end surface.

3. The optical connector as recited in claim 2, wherein the first conductive portion is formed on the entire part of the first outer peripheral surface.

4. The optical connector as recited in claim 2, wherein a part of the second outer peripheral surface between the second end surface and the second conductive portion is made of insulative material.

5. The optical connector as recited in claim 1 further comprising a third ferrule having a third end portion, wherein:

the third end portion has a circular cylinder-like shape, the third end portion having a third outer peripheral surface and a third end surface,

a third conductive portion is formed on a part of the third outer peripheral surface, the location of the third conductive portion being apart from the third end surface, and

a distance between the third end surface and the third conductive portion is different from either the distance between the first end surface and the first conductive portion or the distance between the second end surface and the second conductive portion.

6. An optical connector apparatus comprising the optical connector as recited in claim 1 and the connection member connected with the optical connector, wherein:

the connection member comprises the at least two grip portions each having conductivity,

one of the grip portions grips the first conductive portion so as to be electrically connected with the first conductive portion, and

the other one of the grip portions grips the second conductive portion so as to be electrically connected with the second conductive portion.

7. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising another optical connector as a mating optical connector, wherein the connection member is an adaptor which connects the optical connector with the mating optical connector.

8. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the connection member is a mating connector for the optical connector.

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

an entire outer surface of the first ferrule, including the first end surface and a peripheral surface of the first ferrule connected to the first end surface, comprises a conductive material; and

the second end surface of the second ferrule is made of an insulative material, and the second ferrule comprises a back portion that comprises a conductive material and is set back from the first end portion.

10. The optical connector as recited in claim 9, wherein the first ferrule is metal.

11. The optical connector as recited in claim 9, wherein the first ferrule comprises a resin base that is plated with metal.

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

the first ferrule is configured to receive a first optical fiber such that the first optical fiber is positioned radially within the first conductive portion; and

the second ferrule is configured to receive a second optical fiber such that the second optical fiber is positioned radially within the second conductive portion.