HDTV camera cable connector

• US 6,454,462 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kings Electronics Co., Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Kings Electronics Co., Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Kennedy, Jim, Nguyen, Hiep V., Bateman, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/813,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/75, 385/101, 439/584, 439/577
• 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 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44

Abstract

A cable connector is disclosed for hybrid cables having optical fibers, power lines, and audio lines. In one embodiment, the cable connector includes male and female portions having corresponding male and female contact pins for the power and audio lines, and forwardly-biased ferrules housing the optical fibers. All the lines and optical fibers are secured in an insulator device by an insulator lock that lockably engages a receptacle of the insulator device. Each hybrid cable is further secured and sealed with a grip member and a crimp ring. The cable connector of the present invention allows for field serviceability without the use of potting compounds.

Claims

1. A connector for securing two cables having fiber optic and electrical lines and having an outer sheath conductor, the connector comprising:

a male portion and a female portion operable to slidably engage one another, the male portion including

at least one ferrule defining a central opening therethrough for receiving an optical fiber,

at least one contact pin for receiving a power line,

at least one contact pin for receiving an audio line,

an insulator device defining a plurality of channels therethrough, the channels formed to receive the at least one ferrule, the at least one power line contact pin, and the at least one audio line contact pin, the insulator device also defining a recessed annular channel at one end, and

an insulator lock defining a plurality of channels therethrough corresponding to the channels defined by the insulator device, the insulator lock formed to releaseably engage the recessed annular channel of the insulator device such that the ferrule and the contact pins are secured when the insulator lock is in the engaged position;

a grip member having a body portion defining a central opening for receiving one of the cables such that the outer sheath conductor of the cable is positioned outside of the central opening; and

a crimp ring positioned about the body portion of the grip member for securing the outer sheath conductor of the cable.

2. A connector according to claim 1, further comprising a metallic spacer positioned between the body portion of the grip member and the crimp ring.

3. A connector according to claim 1, further comprising a tubular spacer positioned between the insulator device and the grip member for further securing the cable in the connector.

4. A connector according to claim 3, wherein the tubular spacer is formed of a thermoplastic material.

5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the male portion includes two ferrules, two power line contact pins, and two audio line contact pins.

6. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulator device is formed from an insulative material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and ABS plastic.

7. A connector according to claim 1, further comprising a bias member for biasing the at least one ferrule towards the end of the insulator device opposite the end defining the annular channel.

8. A connector for securing two cables having fiber and electrical lines and having an outer sheath conductor, the connector comprising:

a male portion and a female portion operable to slidably engage one another, the female portion including

a ferrule defining a central opening therethrough for receiving an optical fiber,

at least one contact pin having opposing ends, and defining an opening at one end for receiving a power line and a slotted opening at the other end for receiving a corresponding contact pin from the male portion,

at least one contact pin having opposing ends, and defining an opening at one end for receiving an audio line and a slotted opening at the other end for receiving a corresponding contact pin from the male portion,

an insulator device defining a plurality of channels therethrough, the channels formed to receive the at least one power line contact pin and the at least one audio line contact pin, the insulator device also defining a recessed annular channel at one end, and

an insulator lock defining a plurality of channels therethrough corresponding to the channels defined by the insulator device, the insulator lock formed to releaseably engage the recessed annular channel of the insulator device such that the ferrule and the contact pins are secured to the insulator device when the insulator lock is engaged position;

a grip member having a body portion defining a central opening for receiving one of the cables such that the outer sheath conductor of the cable is positioned outside of the central opening; and

a crimp ring positioned about the body portion of the grip member for securing the outer sheath conductor of the cable.

9. A connector according to claim 8, further comprising a metallic spacer positioned between the body portion of the grip member and the crimp ring.

10. A connector according to claim 8, further comprising a tubular spacer positioned between the insulator device and the grip member for further securing the cable in the connector.

11. A connector according to claim 8, wherein the female portion includes two ferrules, two power line contact pins, and two audio line contact pins.

12. A connector according to claim 8, further comprising a bias member for biasing the at least one ferrule towards the end of the insulator device opposite the end defining the annular channel.

13. A connector for securing two cables having fiber optic and electrical lines, the connector comprising:

a male portion and a female portion operable to slidably engage one another, each of the male and female portions comprising;

at least one ferrule defining a central opening therethrough for receiving an optical fiber, the ferrule of the male portion and the ferrule of the female portion being biased forwardly into an abutting relationship so that light can travel between the ferrules,

at least one contact pin for receiving associated power lines, the power line contact pin of the male portion defining an opening at one end for receiving a power line and having a tip at the other end operable to engage a slotted opening defined in the power line contact pin of the female portion, and

an insulator device defining a plurality of channels therethrough, the channels formed to receive the at least one ferrule and the at least one contact pin, each of the insulator devices also defining a receptacle at one end; and

an insulator lock defining a plurality of channels therethrough corresponding to the channels defined by the insulator device, the insulator lock being formed to releaseably engage the receptacle of the insulator device such that the ferrule and contacts pins extending therethrough are secured in the insulator device when the insulator lock is in the engaged position.

14. A connector according to claim 13, wherein the male portion and the female portion each include two ferrules, two power line contact pins, and two audio line contact pins.

15. A connector according to claim 13, further comprising a bias member positioned adjacent the at least one ferrule for biasing the least one ferrule towards the end of the insulator device opposite the end defining the receptacle thereof.

16. A connector according to claim 13, wherein the receptacle is in the form of a recessed annular channel.

17. A method of terminating a pair of hybrid cables each having at least one optical fiber, at least one power line, and at least one audio line, the method comprising:

securing the at least one power line and the at least one audio line of each hybrid cable in corresponding contact pins;

securing the least one optical fiber of each hybrid cable in an opening formed through a ferrule;

positioning the at least one contact pin and the at least one ferrule of each hybrid cable in channels formed through an insulator device defining a receptacle at one end; and

securing the at least one contact pin and the at least one ferrule in the insulator device by inserting an insulator lock formed to engage the receptacle of the insulator device.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising sealing the hybrid cable by positioning a grip member about the at least one optical fiber, at least one power line, and at least one audio line of each hybrid cable so that an outer sheath conductor of each hybrid cable is exposed, and mechanically pressing a crimp ring about the exposed outer sheath conductor so that the outer sheath conductor is interposed between the grip member and the crimp ring.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the sealing step includes positioning a resilient washer and an end cap about the hybrid cable.

20. A method according to claim 17, further comprising positioning the insulator devices of the hybrid cables in an abutting relationship so that the respective audio line contact pins and power line contact pins of each hybrid cable engage one another, and so that the respective ferrules of each hybrid cable abut one another so that the optical fibers secured within ferrules form a continuous path for light to pass.

21. A method according to claim 17, further comprising positioning a tubular spacer between the insulator device and the grip member on each hybrid cable for further securing the hybrid cable.

22. A method according to claim 17, further comprising biasing the at least one ferrule of each optical fiber towards the end of the respective insulator device opposite the end defining the receptacle.

23. A connector for terminating a hybrid cable containing at least one electrical conductor and at least one optical fiber arranged side-by-side within the cable, comprising:

an outer housing defining a passage extending axially therethrough for receiving an end of the cable;

an insulator device secured within the passage of the outer housing, the insulator device defining at least first and second side-by-side apertures formed axially therethrough;

a contact member configured to be attached to an end of the at least one electrical conductor of the cable and to be inserted axially into the first aperture of the insulator device from one end thereof and to be slid axially up against a stop defined by the insulator device, and a ferrule configured to be attached to an end of the at least one optical fiber with the fiber extending through a bore formed through the ferrule, the ferrule being configured to be inserted axially into the second aperture of the insulator device from said one end thereof and to be slid axially up against another stop defined by the insulator device; and

an insulator lock received axially into said one end of the insulator device and defining at least a pair of passages for passage of the at least one electrical conductor and optical fiber therethrough, the insulator device and insulator lock being configured such that the insulator lock removably snaps into said one end of the insulator device behind the at least one contact member and ferrule to prevent the contact member and ferrule from being withdrawn out said one end of the insulator device.

24. A connector according to claim 23, wherein the insulator device defines six apertures formed axially therethrough.

25. A connector according to claim 23, further comprising a grip member for securing an outer conductive braid of the hybrid cable that is positioned about the at least one electrical conductor and the at least one optical fiber.