Optoelectronic connector assembly

• US 4,427,879 A
• Filed: 04/01/1977
• Issued: 01/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: Allied Corp. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Spaulding, Tedford H., Becher, James V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chatmon, Jr., Saxfield
• Application Number:
  US05/783,754
• Time in Patent Office: 2,489 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.15, 350/96.18, 350/96.20, 250/215, 250/227, 250/551
• US Class Current: 250/215
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2552 reshaping or reforming of light guides for coupling using thermal heating, e.g. tapering, forming of a lens on light guide ends
• 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 6/4219 Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

An optoelectronic connector assembly having electrical and optical connector parts include housings which can be resiliently engaged and manually disengaged from each other. The electrical connector part housing has a socket receiving cavity therethrough for receiving an optoelectronic transducer. The transducer can be a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode, or can be a light responsive element such as a photodiode. The two housings are engaged by means of a protuberance having an inclined ramp on one of the housings, the other housing having an interlock recess therein so that, when the two housings mate, the inclined ramp operates upon the interlock recess so as to provide for a resilient but positive and firm engagement of the two housings. The optical connector part housing has a pin contact receiving cavity for receiving a fiber optic light guide. A pin connector means holds the fiber optic light guide within the pin receiving cavity so that the light guide cooperates with the optoelectronic element in the socket receiving cavity of the electrical connector part housing. The pin contact means includes a first crimpable section which is engageable about an outer jacket of the fiber optic light guide while a second crimpable section engages about an inner light conductive fiber of the light guide. The pin contact means engages the interior portions of the pin contact receiving cavity so as to be firmly engaged therein. A terminal end of the fiber optic light guide can have a curved shape: convex, mushroom, or meniscus shape such as that determined by a surface tension effect of the fiber optic material by application of heat applied to its terminal end.

Claims

1. An optoelectronic connector assembly comprising an electrical connector part and an optical connector part, said parts each including a housing formed of resilient material, one housing being formed with a keyway therewithin and the other housing having a mating key for engaging with said keyway, a first of said housings having an interlock recess therein and a second of said housings having protuberance means formed thereon for engagement with said recess so that both of said housings can positively engage with each other and so that such engaged housings can be manually disengaged from each other,

said electrical connector part housing being formed with a socket receiving cavity,

said electrical connector part further comprising first means for firmly positioning a photo-electric transducer element in said socket receiving cavity;

and

said optical connector part housing being formed with a pin contact receiving cavity, said pin contact receiving cavity, said pin contact receiving cavity being aligned with the socket receiving cavity of said electrical connector part housing when said housings are engaged with each other, and

said optical connector part further comprising second means for firmly positioning a terminal portion of a fiber optic light guide within said pin contact receiving cavity,

whereby said parts can be selectively engaged and disengaged, and, when engaged, to thereby produce engagement of said transducer element with said terminal portion of said fiber optic light guide without physical adjustment of either said transducer element or said light guide portion, and wherein potential damage due to contact between said transducer element and said terminal portion is significantly reduced due to the resiliency of the material of said housings.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical connector part housing is formed with a plurality of socket receiving cavities, and wherein said optical connector part housing is formed with a like plurality of pin contact receiving cavities, the cavities of one part being aligned with the corresponding cavities of the other part when said housings are engaged with each other.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said protuberance means includes an inclined projecting ramp surface for at least partial engagement with said interlock recess to provide for increased resiliency between said housings when engaged.

4. The combination as recited in claim 1 further comprising

a photo-electric transducer element positioned in said socket receiving cavity by said first firmly positioning means;

and

a fiber optic light guide having a terminal portion positioned in said pin contact receiving a cavity by said second firmly positioning means.

5. The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein the end of said terminal portion is formed with a convex surface, thereby providing a lens effect integrally associated with said fiber optic light guide.

6. The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein the end of said terminal portion is formed with a mushroom-shaped surface, thereby providing a lens effect integrally associated with said fiber optic light guide.

7. A signal transmission system comprising

an electronic output station for emitting electrical output signals,

a light emitting optoelectronic element electrically connected to said electronic output station and responsive to the electrical output signals to produce light output signals,

a first electrical connector part associated with said electronic output station and mounting said light emitting optoelectronic element therewithin,

an electronic input station for receiving electrical signals,

a light responsive optoelectronic element electrically connected to said electronic input station,

a second electrical connector part associated with said electronic input station and mounting said light responsive optoelectronic element therewithin,

a fiber optic light guide for carrying light signals,

a first optical connector part adapted for releasable engagement with said first electrical connector part,

first means mounting and firmly positioning a first terminal portion of said fiber optic light guide within said first optical connector part so that, when said first electrical and light connector parts are engaged, said first terminal portion is in intimate association with said light emitting optoelectronic element to receive the light output signals,

a second optical connector part adapted for releasable engagement with said second electrical connector part, and

means mounting and firmly positioning a second terminal portion of said fiber optic light guide within said second optical connector part so that, when said second optical and electrical connector parts are engaged, said second terminal portion is in intimate association with said light responsive optoelectronic element to transmit light signals thereto,

whereby said fiber optic light guide and the associated optical connector parts can be repeatedly disengaged from and engaged with the corresponding electrical connector parts without physical adjustment of either said optoelectronic elements or said light guide terminal portions.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said light emitting optoelectronic element is a light emitting diode, and said light responsive optoelectronic element is a photodiode.

9. An optoelectronic connector assembly comprising

an electrical connector part having a front end portion,

an optical connector part having a front end portion adapted to engage with the front end portion of said electrical connector part,

an optoelectronic transducer,

means firmly supporting said transducer within said electrical connector part so that said transducer faces the front end of said electrical connector part,

an optical fiber having material of light transmitting characteristics, and

means rigidly and firmly positioning a terminal end portion of said optical fiber within said optical connector part so that the end of said fiber faces the front end of said optical connector part, and

therein said latter means renders unnecessary any subsequent physical adjustment of said optical fiber with respect to said optical connector part.

10. The connector assembly as recited in claim 9 characterized by an absence of a separate lens between said transducer and said optical fiber.

11. The connector assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said optoelectronic transducer is a photodiode.

12. The connector assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said optoelectronic transducer is a light emitting diode.

13. Means for interconnecting an optical fiber of light transmitting material to an electronic circuit comprising

an optical connector part,

an electrical connector part engageable with said optical connector part,

an optoelectronic transducer within said electrical connector part,

means mounting said transducer in said electrical part,

means for electrically connecting said transducer to said circuit,

means for rigidly and firmly positioning a terminal end portion of said optical fiber within said optical connector part so that an end of said fiber is in alignment with and in juxtaposition with said transducer when said parts are engaged, and

means associated with said parts for positive but resilient engagement of said parts, said associated means providing for manual disengagement of said parts.

14. The invention as recited in claim 13, wherein the end of said fiber comprises a curved surface determined by the surface tension of said optical fiber material after said end has been melted by an application of heat thereto, thereby providing a lens effect integrally associated with said fiber.

15. In combination,

an electrical connector part,

an optical connector part adapted to be engageable with said electrical connector part and manually disengageable therefrom,

said electrical connector part having a socket receiving cavity therein, including a recessed bore in said cavity facing in the direction of said optical connector part when said parts are engaged,

an optoelectronic transducer including a main body and a lead attached thereto, said main body being seated in said bore with said lead extending through at least a portion of said cavity, and

opaque conductive coupling means having a first portion located in said cavity and a second portion extending outwardly away from said electrical connector part, said first portion of said opaque conductive means providing (1) an electrical connection to said transducer lead, (2) heat dissipation away from said transducer body, (3) general alignment of said transducer, and (4) isolation of light to and from said cavity in a direction perpendicular to a main axis of said cavity, said second portion being adapted to be soldered to an electronic circuit.

16. The combination as recited in claim 15 further comprising means for mounting said electrical connector part to a printed circuit board having an electronic circuit thereon.

17. In combination, a connector assembly comprising

a first connector part and a second connector part, said parts each including a housing formed of resilient material, one housing being formed with a keyway therewithin and the other housing having a mating key for engaging with said keyway, a first of said housing having an interlock recess therein and a second of said housings having protuberance means formed thereon for engaging said recess so that both said housings can positively engage with each other and so that such engaged housings can be manually disengaged from each other,

said first connector part housing being formed with a socet receiving cavity,

said second connector part housing being formed with a pin contact receiving cavity, said pin contact receiving cavity being aligned with the socket receiving cavity of said first connector part housing when said housings are engaged with each other, said second connector part housing having a reduced bore within said pin contact receiving cavity, one side of said reduced bore forming an annular shoulder with said pin contact receiving cavity and an opposite side of said bore forming a common annular retention shoulder with said pin contact receiving cavity,

an optical fiber light guide having an inner fiber of light transmitting material, and an outer jacket, said light guide having a terminal end portion with said jacket removed, and

pin contact means adapted to be received within said pin contact receiving cavity, said pin contact means having, from rear to front,

(1) a first crimpable section, adapted to be crimped about said outer jacket of said light guide,

(2) a second crimpable section, adapted to be crimped about said inner fiber of said light guide,

(3) a resilient collar adapted to have a slight press fit with respect to said pin contact receiving collar so as to permit its serving as a stabilizer to maintain said pin contact means securely aligned after insertion,

(4) keylike embossments for contacting said first named annular shoulder for providing a positive multi-point stop for an inserted pin contact means and thus serving to pre-align such inserted pin contact means in proper position, and

(5) releasable retention means for cooperating with said common annular retention shoulder.

18. A method of making an optoelectrical connector comprising the steps of:

affixing a sleeve, having intermediate forward facing and rearward facing retention times, about a terminal portion of a fiber optic light guide;

providing a first stop on a first connector part housing;

providing forward and rearward facing surfaces in a cavity of the first connector part housing at a first predetermined distance from the first stop of the housing;

inserting the sleeve into the cavity until the forward and rearward facing retention tines engage the respective rearward and forward facing surfaces in the cavity thereby mounting the terminal portion of the light guide at a predetermined position;

providing a second stop on a second connector part housing for engagement with the first stop;

affixing an optoelectronic transducer between forward and rearward facing retention elements in a cavity of a second connector part housing, which is matable with the first connector part housing, by securing the transducer at a second predetermined distance from the second stop of the second connector part,

wherein the first and second predetermined distances are selected to provide intimate association of the end of the terminal portion of the light guide and the optoelectronic transducer when the connector housings are mated with the first and second stops engaged.

19. An optoelectronic connector comprising:

first and second telescopically matable connector housings, including a first passageway and a second passageway therethrough, respectively, and first and second stops, respectively, for abutting engagement;

a fiber optic light guide including a terminal portion and an end at said terminal portion;

a terminal sleeve element secured about said terminal portion and extending to said end thereof, said sleeve including forward and rearward facing retention tines;

a reduced diameter portion in said first passageway defining forward and rearward facing surfaces engaging said rearward and forward facing retention tines, respectively, said reduced diameter portion being at a first predetermined distance from said stop;

a rearward facing surface in said second passageway at a second predetermined distance from said second stop;

an optoelectronic transducer including a radial flange said transducer disposed in said second passageway with said flange against said rearward facing surface; and

retaining means in said second passageway securing said flange to said rearward facing surface,

said first and second predetermined distances selected to provide intimate association of said transducer and said end of said light guide when said housings are mated with said first and second stops engaged.

20. An optical connector comprising:

first and second telescopically matable connector housings, including a first passageway and a second passageway therethrough, respectively, and first and second stops, respectively, for abutting engagement;

a fiber optic light guide including a terminal portion and an end at said terminal portion;

a terminal sleeve element secured about said terminal portion and extending forward toward said end to a point which is at least adjacent said end, said sleeve including forward and rearward facing and radially extending retention portions;

a terminal sleeve element mounting portion in said first passageway defining forward and rearward facing portions engaging said rearward and forward facing retention portions, respectively, to mount said end of said fiber optic light guide at a first predetermined distance from said first stop; and

a transmission element, including an end portion capable of supporting light transmission, disposed in said second passageway;

transmission element mounting means in said second passageway mounting said transmission element with said optical end portion at a second predetermined distance from said second stop,

said first and second predetermined distances selected to provide intimate association of said end of said fiber optic light guide and said optical end portion of said transmission element when said housings are mated with said first and second stops engaged.

21. The optical connector defined in claim 20, wherein said terminal sleeve mounting portion is a reduced diameter portion in said first passageway which defines said forward and rearward facing surfaces, and said terminal sleeve element comprises a sheet metal structure including forward and rearward retention tines which respectively carry said rearward and forward facing portions.

22. An optoelectronic connector unit comprising:

a housing including a passageway therethrough, said passageway including a reduced diameter portion defining forward and rearward facing surfaces; and

a terminal sleeve element including a forward end and a rear end and adapted to encircle and be secured to a terminal portion of a fiber optic light guide so that at least the terminal end of said terminal portion extends forward to at least said forward end of said terminal sleeve element,

said terminal sleeve element including rearward facing retention tines engaging said forward facing surface of said reduced diameter portion of said passageway and forward facing retention tines engaging said rearward facing surface of said reduced diameter portion of said passageway.

23. The connector set forth in claim 22, wherein said passageway includes a rear portion having an inner surface and said terminal sleeve element further comprises a resilient collar rearwardly of said forward facing retention tines and having a larger transverse dimension than said cavity for a press fit against said inner surface of said cavity, said resilient collar providing stabilization and axial alignment of said terminal sleeve element in said passageway.

24. The connector defined in claim 22, wherein said terminal sleeve element further comprises at least one crimpable section at said rear end thereof for securing a fiber optic light guide therein.