Connector device and connector

• US 20020164899A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Asada, Kazuhiro, Nakura, Yuji, Imazu, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,776,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/577
• 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 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4277 Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

An optical coupling connector portion, including ferrule portions, is provided at a widthwise central portion of a connector housing having a shape flattened in a direction of the width thereof. Female connection terminal portions, serving as electrical connection terminals, are provided in a distributed manner at widthwise opposite side portions of the connector housings disposed outwardly respectively of opposite sides of the optical coupling connector portion. An optical coupling connector portion, including ferrule receiving portions for respectively receiving the ferrule portions, is provided at a widthwise central portion of a second connector housing. Male connection terminal portions, serving as electrical connection terminal portions, are provided in a distributed manner at widthwise opposite side portions of the connector housing in corresponding relation to the female connection terminal portions.

Claims

1. A connector device comprising:

a first connector including a first connector housing, the first connector housing incorporating a first optical coupling connector portion and a plurality of first electrical connection terminal portions, a first optical coupling connector portion having at least one ferrule for holding an end portion of an optical fiber; and

a second connector including a second connector housing, the second connector housing incorporating a second optical coupling connector portion and second electrical connection terminal portions, the second optical coupling connector portion having at least one ferrule receiving portion to receive the ferrule, the second electrical connection terminal portions corresponding respectively to the first electrical connection terminal portions to be connected to the first electrical connection terminal portions;

wherein,

in the first connector, the first electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner around the first optical coupling connector portion; and

,

in the second connector, the second electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner around the second optical coupling connector portion in corresponding relation to the first electrical connection terminal portions.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second connection terminal portions is a male connection terminal portion while the other is a female connection terminal.

3. The connector device according to claim 1,

wherein

the first connector housing has a shape flattened in a direction of a width thereof;

the first optical coupling connector portion is provided at a widthwise central portion of the first connector housing;

the first electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner at widthwise opposite side portions of the first connector housing;

the second connector housing has a shape flattened in a direction of a width thereof in corresponding relation to the first connector housing;

the second optical coupling connector portion is provided at a widthwise central portion of the second connector housing in corresponding relation to the first optical coupling connector portion; and

the second electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner at widthwise opposite side portions of the second connector housing in corresponding relation to the first electrical connection terminal portions.

4. The connector device according to claim 1,

wherein

the first connector and the second connector are mutually connected in a prescribed direction;

and,

in the connection of the first and the second connector, a position where the ferrule begins to be inserted into the ferrule receiving portion is spaced in the prescribed direction from a position where the first connection terminal portions begins to be inserted into the corresponding second connection terminal portion.

5. The connector device according to claim 4,

wherein,

in the connection of the first and the second connector,the ferrule begins to be inserted into the ferrule receiving portion after each of the first connection terminal portions begins to be inserted into the corresponding second connection terminal portion.

6. The connector device according to claim 1,

wherein

an elongate guide projection is formed on one of the first and second connector housings to extend in a direction of connection of the two connector housings;

and

a guide groove which guides the elongate guide projection in the connecting direction is formed in the other.

7. A connector comprising:

a connector housing incorporating an optical coupling connector portion and a plurality of electrical connection terminal portions, the optical coupling connector portion having at least one ferrule for holding an end portion of an optical fiber,

wherein

the electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner around the optical coupling connector portion.

8. A connector comprising:

a connector housing incorporating an optical coupling connector portion and a plurality of electrical connection terminal portions, the optical coupling connector portion having at least one ferrule receiving portion for receiving a ferrule of a mating connector,

wherein

the electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner around the optical coupling connector portion.

9. A connector for being mounted on and fixed to a mounting board, comprising:

an optical connector portion including an optical element,

an electrical connector portion including an electrical connection terminal portion,

a connector housing which houses both the optical connector portion and the electrical connector portion, and an electrically-conductive plate-like member provided between the optical connector portion and the electrical connector portion,

wherein the electrically-conductive plate-like member has a grounding terminal portion extending outwardly from the connector housing to be connected to a grounding wiring pattern formed on the mounting board.

10. The connector according to claim 9 wherein the optical connector portion includes a plurality of optical elements.

11. The connector according to claim 9,

wherein

the electrical connector portion includes a plurality of electrical connection terminal portions;

each of the electrical connection terminal portions has a lead terminal portion which extends outwardly from the connector housing to be connected to the mounting board; and

the lead terminal portions of the electrical connection terminal portions and the grounding terminal portion are arranged at equal intervals.

12. The connector according to claim 9,

wherein

the electrical connection terminal portions has a lead terminal portion which extends outwardly from the connector housing to be connected to the mounting board;

and

a cross-sectional area of the grounding terminal portion is larger than a cross-sectional area of the lead terminal portion.