Printed circuit card hybrid

• US 4,597,631 A
• Filed: 12/02/1982
• Issued: 07/01/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Flores, Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Frank
• Application Number:
  US06/446,295
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/96.22, 339/17 LC, 339/65, 339/66, 339/186
• US Class Current: 385/53
• 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 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7011 Locking or fixing a connector to a PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/722 coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/737 Printed circuits being substantially perpendicular to each other for printed connections H05K3/366

Abstract

A hybrid connector is presented whereby both electrical and fiber optic cables are connected to a printed circuit card. The connector consists of a female half which contains a plurality of fiber optic contact inserts molded into the connector, and also female electrical connections. The male half of the connector is an integral part of a printed circuit card constructed to contain male fiber optical contact inserts in addition to the standard plated electrical male type contact points. Both halves of the connector may be fitted with removable and interchangeable fiber optic contacts, radio frequency contacts, and/or power pins in addition to the standard printed circuit car contacts for wire wrap or solder connections. The printed circuit card hybrid fiber optic connector presented here provides normal card installation and removal of fiber optic interconnects from standard card cages or mother boards without threading or other special engaging mechanisms.

Claims

1. A hybrid connector for fastening both electrical and light conductors to a printed circuit board which comprises:

holding means fixed as an input edge of the printed circuit board for holding in a preselected arrangement a first combination of a plurality of fiber optic contact inserts and electrical contacts, said first combination of contacts being arranged to serve as optical and electrical signal inputs for the circuitry on the printed circuit card;

said holding means including a housing which is rigidly fixed to the printed circuit board, said housing containing a portion of the fiber optic inserts and holding them in said preselected arrangement; and

maintaining means for maintaining in a preselected arrangement a second combination of a plurality of fiber optic contact inserts and electrical contacts which connects said second combination of contacts to said first combination of contacts on the holding means, said first and second combination sets of contacts mating in a manner for transmitting electrical and optical signals through the connection, and said maintaining means making a releasable connection with the holding means.

2. A hybrid connector according to claim 1 wherein the maintaining means comprises:

a unitary molded housing containing a preselected arrangement of said second combination of a plurality of optical insert contacts and electrical contacts.

3. A hybrid connector according to claim 2 wherein the maintaining means further includes:

a plurality of guide pins.

4. A hybrid connector according to claim 3 wherein the holding means further includes:

a plurality of receiving holes for releasably accepting and retaining the guide pins when inserted.

5. A hybrid connector according to claim 4 wherein:

the second combination of a plurality of optical insert contacts and electrical contacts within the maintaining means are male type connectors; and

the first combination of a plurality of optical insert contacts and electrical contacts are female type connectors.

6. A hybrid connector according to claim 2 wherein the holding means further includes:

a plurality of guide pins.

7. A hybrid connector according to claim 6 wherein the maintaining means further includes:

a plurality of receiving holes for releasably accepting and retaining the guide pins when inserted.

8. A hybrid connector according to claim 7 wherein:

the second combination of a plurality of optical insert contacts and electrical contacts within the maintaining means are male type connectors; and

the first combination of a plurality of optical insert contacts and electrical contacts are female type connectors.

9. A hybrid connector according to claim 1 wherein the optical insert contacts further comprise:

removable and replaceable fiber optic contact inserts thereby allowing repair and replacement in the holding means.