Electrical/lightwave connection arrangement

• US 4,767,181 A
• Filed: 03/26/1987
• Issued: 08/30/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fitel USA Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Information Systems Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McEowen, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEALY, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US07/031,174
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.10, 350/96.15, 350/96.16, 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/96.22, 350/96.23, 250/227, 439/100, 439/101, 439/102, 439/106, 439/107, 439/108, 439/180, 439/210, 439/378, 439/574, 439/575, 439/577, 439/604, 439/606, 439/816, 439/843, 439/845
• US Class Current: 385/78
• 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 6/3873 Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/005 Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling

Abstract

A combined electrical/lightwave connection arrangement provides electrical connections via conventional contact blades and ground post and a lightwave connection via a lightwave transmission line carried within the ground post.

Claims

1. A connector arrangement comprising

a plug housing,

exactly two substantially parallel, electrically conductive blades extending from said housing, said blades each having a width substantially within a range of 0.240-0.260 inches and being spaced apart from one another by a distance substantially within a range of 0.495-0.505 inches, on center,

first and second electrical wires connected to respective ones of said blades,

a lightwave transmission line having a terminating portion having an end which is adapted to couple light signals into and out of said transmission line, and

exactly one post extending from said housing and substantially surrounding said terminating portion, said post being substantially parallel to said blades, spaced apart from each of said blades by a distance substantially within a range of 0.525-0.536 inches, on center, and having an outside diameter substantially within a range of 0.184-0.190 inches.

2. The connector arrangement of claim 1 wherein said post is a hollow cylinder and said terminating portion is disposed within said hollow cylinder.

3. The connector arrangement of claim 2 wherein said post is electrically conductive and wherein said arrangement further comprises a third electrical wire connected to said post.

4. The connector arrangement of claim 1 wherein said post extends from said housing to a free end and wherein said end of said terminating portion is substantially coextensive with said free end of said post.

5. The connector arrangement of claim 4 wherein said post is electrically conductive and wherein said arrangement further comprises a third electrical wire connected to said post.

6. The connector arrangement of claim 1 wherein said end of said terminating portion is adapted to couple light signals out of said transmission line in a direction that is substantially parallel to said post.

7. The connector arrangement of claim 1 wherein said end of said terminating portion terminates in a mating surface which extends beyond said free end of said post.

8. The connector arrangement of claim 7 wherein said terminating portion is a frustum one face of which is said mating surface.

9. The connector arrangement of claim 8 wherein light signals are coupled out of said mating surface in a direction that is substantially parallel to said post.

10. A female connector arrangement for use in conjunction with a male connector arrangement, said male connector arrangement comprising a plug housing, a pair of substantially parallel, electrically conductive blades extending from said housing, said blades each having a width substantially within a range of 0.240-0.260 inches and being spaced apart from one another by a distance substantially within a range of 0.495-0.505 inches, on center, first and second electrical wires connected to respective ones of said blades, a first lightwave transmission line having a terminating portion terminating in a free end, said free end being adapted to couple light signals into and out of said first transmission line, and a post extending from said housing and substantially surrounding said terminating portion said post being substantially parallel to said blades, spaced apart from each of said blades by a distance substantially within a range of 0.525-0.536 inches, on center, and having an outside diameter substantially within a range of 0.184-0.190 inches, said female connector arrangement comprising,

a receptacle body in which are formed a pair of slots adapted to receive said blades and in which is further formed an aperture adapted to receive said post,

first and second electrically conductive means disposed within said body for contacting said blades when they are inserted into said slots,

a second lightwave transmission line terminating within said body at a free end, said second transmission line free end being adapted to couple light signals into and out of said second transmission line, and

means disposed within said body for optically mating said free ends of said first and second transmission lines when said post is inserted into said aperture.

11. The connector arrangement of claim 10 wherein there is formed in said mating means a passage terminating in said free end of said second transmission line, said passage being adapted to receive said free end of said first transmission line.

12. The connector arrangement of claim 10 wherein said mating means comprises a lightwave connector body having a shape such that said free ends of said first and second transmission lines are optically mated when said post is partially inserted in said aperture, and

means for resiliently urging said lightwave connector body toward said aperture, said lightwave connector body being slidably disposed within said receptacle body such that said free ends of said first and second transmission lines are maintained in intimate contact when said post is fully inserted in said aperture.

13. A connector arrangement comprising

a electrical plug including a plug housing, said plug being a type of plug conforming to American National Standard ANSI/UL 498 which has a post extending from said housing to a free end, said post having a channel formed therein extending from said housing to said free end, and

a lightwave transmission line extending through said channel and having a free end adapted to couple light signals into and out of said transmission line.

14. The connector arrangement of claim 13 wherein said post is electrically conductive and said arrangement further comprises a third electrical wire connected to said post.

15. A female connector arrangement for use in conjunction with a male connector arrangement, said male connector arrangement comprising a electrical plug including a plug housing, said plug being a type of plug conforming to American National Standard ANSI/UL 498 which has a post extending from said housing to a free end, said post having a channel formed therein extending from said housing to said free end, and a lightwave transmission line extending through said channel and having a free end adapted to couple light signals into and out of said transmission line, said female connector arrangement comprising

a female receptacle including a receptacle housing, said receptacle being a type of receptacle conforming to American National Standard ANSI/UL 498 which has an aperture adapted to receive said post,

a second lightwave transmission line terminating within said receptacle housing at a free end, said second transmission line free end being adapted to couple light signals into and out of said second transmission line, and

means disposed within said receptacle housing for optically mating said free ends of said first and second transmission lines when said post is inserted into said aperture.