OPTICAL/ELECTRICAL COMPOSITE CONNECTOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20110033155A1
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Daikuhara, Osamu
• Granted Patent: US 8,714,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/72
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/26 Optical coupling means G02B6/36, G02B6/42 take precedence
• 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 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

In an optical/electrical composite connector including a male connector and a female connector, the male connector includes a ferrule provided at an end portion of an optical fiber on a side of the male connector which is connected to the female connector, and an electrode terminal. The female connector includes a core to transmit an optical signal, a cladding to cover the core, an electric wiring provided on an outer wall surface of the cladding, a sleeve in which the ferrule is fitted, the sleeve provided at an end portion of the cladding on a side of the female connector which is connected to the male connector, and a lens provided in the sleeve. When the ferrule and the sleeve are fitted together, the electrode terminal and the electric wiring are electrically connected and the optical fiber and the core are optically connected through the lens.

Claims

1. An optical/electrical composite connector including a male connector and a female connector for making an optical fiber connection and an electric wiring connection,

the male connector comprising:

a ferrule provided at an end portion of an optical fiber on a side of the male connector which is connected to the female connector; and

an electrode terminal,

the female connector comprising;

a core to transmit an optical signal;

a cladding to cover the core;

an electric wiring provided on an outer wall surface of the cladding;

a sleeve in which the ferrule of the male connector is fitted, the sleeve provided at an end portion of the cladding on a side of the female connector which is connected to the male connector; and

a lens provided in the sleeve,

wherein, when the ferrule and the sleeve are fitted together, the electrode terminal of the male connector and the electric wiring of the female connector are electrically connected and the optical fiber of the male connector and the core of the female connector are optically connected through the lens.

2. The optical/electrical composite connector according to claim 1, wherein the cladding, the sleeve, and the lens in the female connector are formed of a same resin material.

3. The optical/electrical composite connector according to claim 1, wherein the male connector includes a first cylindrical part having an opening on the side of the male connector which is connected to the female connector, the electrode terminal and the ferrule being arranged in the opening of the first cylindrical part, and the female connector includes a second cylindrical part having an opening on the side of the female connector which is connected to the male connector, the electric wiring, the lens and the sleeve being arranged in the opening of the second cylindrical part, and

wherein, when the first cylindrical part is inserted in the second cylindrical part, the ferrule and the sleeve are fitted together.

4. The optical/electrical composite connector according to claim 1, wherein an optical waveguide including the core and the cladding in the female connector, and the electric wiring are connected directly to an optical-communication device which performs optical communication.

5. A method of manufacturing an optical/electrical composite connector for making an optical fiber connection and an electric wiring connection, comprising:

forming an underclad having a groove by injection molding using a metal mold in which an electric wiring is disposed;

applying a core material to the groove of the underclad;

sticking an overclad to the underclad so that the core material applied to the groove is covered by the overclad; and

curing the core material,

wherein, in the forming the underclad, a lens for the optical fiber connection and a sleeve for connecting the female connector to the male connector are formed using a same resin material.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the electric wiring is formed by press forming and the press-formed electric wiring is plated with gold.

7. A method of manufacturing an optical/electrical composite connector for making an optical fiber connection and an electric wiring connection, comprising:

forming an underclad having a groove by injection molding;

forming an electric wiring on an outer wall of the underclad;

applying a core material to the groove of the underclad;

sticking an overclad to the underclad so that the core material applied to the groove is covered by the overclad; and

curing the core material,

wherein, in the forming the underclad, a lens for the optical fiber connection and a sleeve for connecting the female connector to the male connector are formed using a same resin material.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the electric wiring is formed by plating.