Hybrid connector between optics and edge card

• US 5,419,717 A
• Filed: 08/15/1994
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Haley, Edmund J., Abendschein, Frederic H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/290,280
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 385/49, 385/76, 385/77, 385/88, 385/89, 385/101, 385/139, 439/577, 439/246, 439/247
• 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 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence

Abstract

A connector (10) between an optical connector (35) and a receptor (11). The connector (10) has a housing (14) with an upper portion (20) and a lower portion (21). A printed circuit board (45) is received in the upper portion (21) and extends outwardly from the front of the upper portion (20). The printed circuit board (45) is vertically and laterally moveable within the upper portion (20). An optical connector (25) is received in, and retained between, side clips (30, 31) on the lower portion (21) of the housing (14). The optical connector (35) is matable with the optical portion (12) of the receptor (11) and the printed circuit board (45) is self-aligning and matable with the electrical portion (13) of the receptor (11).

Claims

1. A connector having an optical connector for mating with a receptor, the receptor having an optical portion and an electrical portion, said portions being rigidly mounted in a fixed position with respect to one another, the connector comprising:

a housing having a front side, a back side, an upper portion and a lower portion, the optical connector being received and retained in the lower portion of the housing, the optical connector extending outwardly from the front side and the back side of the housing,

a printed circuit board being received in the upper portion of the housing and extending substantially perpendicularly from the front side of the housing, the printed circuit board being vertically and laterally movable and engaged within the upper portion of the housing, and

the optical connector being matable with the optical portion of the receptor and the printed circuit board being vertically and laterally movable so as to be self-aligning and matable with the electrical portion of the receptor.

2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising the housing having a first side and an opposite second side, a blind opening formed in the front side of the upper portion of the housing between the first side and the second side thereof, a pair of slots formed within the opening, a first slot being in the first side and a second slot being in the second side, said slots being in a first plane substantially perpendicular to the first side of the housing, said slots each having the same height,

the printed circuit board having a first side edge and a second opposite side edge, each side edge having a height, said height being less than the height of the respective slots in the sides of the upper portion, the printed circuit board being received in said slots permitting vertical movement of the printed circuit board within the slots such that the printed circuit board may self-align for mating with the electrical portion of the receptor and means for retaining the printed circuit board within the slots.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein each slot has a notch formed therein, a lug formed on each side edge of the printed circuit board, the lugs engaging the respective notches wherein the printed circuit board is retained within the slots in the upper portion of the housing.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the first side and the second side of the upper portion of the housing adjacent to the respective slots are sufficiently thin wherein said sides flex to permit the respective lugs on the printed circuit board to have an interference fit with the respective sides of the upper portion, such that the respective lugs may snap into the respective notches and retain the printed circuit board in the upper portion of the housing.

5. The connector of claim 2, wherein the first slot and the second slot each have a respective depth and a respective bottom, a width between the respective bottoms of the slots, the printed circuit board having a width, the width of the printed circuit board being less than the width between the respective bottoms permitting lateral movement the printed circuit board not to exceed the depth of the respective slots, such that the printed circuit board may self align for mating with the electrical portion of the receptor.

6. The connector of claim 1, the lower portion of the housing further comprising a first side clip and a second side clip, said side clips depending respectively from the first side and the second side of the upper portion of the housing, each side clip having a respective end distal from the upper portion of the housing, each end having a latch formed thereon, the optical connector being secured between the respective latches and the upper portion of the housing preventing vertical movement therebetween and assuring mating of the optical connector with optical portion of the receptor.

7. The connector of claim 1, the lower portion of the housing further comprising a first side clip and a second side clip, said side clips depending respectively from the first side and the second side of the upper portion of the housing, each side clip having a width substantially identical to the width of the other side clip, the optical connector having a pair of spaced-apart shoulders on opposite sides thereof, the space between the shoulders being approximately equal to the width of the side clips on the lower portion of the housing, the respective side clips on the housing being received and retained between the respective shoulders on the optical connector preventing lateral movement between the housing and the optical connector and assuring mating of the optical connector with the optical portion of the receptor.

8. A connector having an optical connector for mating with a receptor, the receptor having an optical portion, the connector comprising:

a housing having a front side, a back side, an upper portion, a first side clip and a second side clip, the optical connector being received and retained in between the side clips of the housing, the optical connector extending outwardly from the front side and the back side of the housing,

each clip having a respective end distal from the upper portion of the housing, each end having a latch formed thereon, the optical connector being secured between the respective latches and the upper portion of the housing, thus preventing vertical movement therebetween and assuring mating of the optical connector with the optical portion of the receptor.

9. The connector of claim 8, further comprising each side clip having a width substantially identical to the width of the other side clip, the optical connector having a pair of spaced-apart shoulders on opposite sides thereof, the space between the shoulders being approximately equal to the width of the side clips on the housing, the respective side clips on the housing being received and retained between the respective shoulders on the optical connector preventing lateral movement between the housing and the optical connector, and assuring mating of the optical connector with the optical portion of the receptor.