Optical/electrical plug connector

• US 6,588,938 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Incorporated (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fitel USA Corporation
• Inventors: Subh, Naif Taleb, Lampert, Norman R
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasri, Javaid H.
• Application Number:
  US09/690,736
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 385/58, 385/70, 385/135, 385/137, 385/147, 385/55, 439/577, 439/418, 439/451, 439/610
• US Class Current: 385/58
• 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 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

An optical cable tracing system is constructed using an optical/electrical (hybrid) cable 10 containing both optical and electrical transmission media. This cable provides desirably high bandwidth via optical fibers 15 while connection accuracy is provided via electrical wires 13, which are used to operate indicator lights 941 at one or both ends of the cable. A hybrid plug connector 300 terminates the cable at each end and includes a dielectric housing 20, 30 that encloses the optical fiber (glass or plastic), which extends through a front opening 21 in the housing. A single cantilever latch 22 is mounted on a top-side of the housing that is adapted to engage a mating jack receptacle 440 in a locking relationship. A conductor-holding apparatus is molded into the bottom side of the housing where it holds a number of insulated electrical conductors and metallic blade terminals 36 that pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with each of the conductors. The mating jack receptacle includes a row of spaced wire springs 449 at the entrance of the optical connecting portion of the receptacle. The wire springs either extend to an opposite side of the receptacle to provide electrical interconnection between a pair of hybrid plug connectors, or the wire springs are arrayed to fit into a printed wiring board 710 for interconnection with electrical circuitry 730 thereon.

Claims

1. A plug connector for terminating optical and electrical transmission media, the connector comprising:

a fiber-holding apparatus for receiving and holding an end portion of an optical fiber;

a dielectric housing structure having one or more internal surfaces that define a first cavity that encloses the end portion of the optical fiber, the housing structure further including;

(i) a back opening in the first cavity through which the optical fiber is received, and (ii) a front opening in the first cavity through which the optical fiber protrudes;

a single cantilever latch for engaging an associated receptacle in a locking relationship, said latch being mounted on a top-side of the housing structure with its fixed end positioned toward the front opening and its free end extending toward the back opening;

Characterized By

one or more internal surfaces that define a second cavity in the housing structure for receiving a number (N) of electrical conductors; and

an equal number (N) of metallic blade terminals that extend into the second cavity from a bottom side of the housing structure and make electrical contact with each of the electrical conductors.

2. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein the dielectric housing has an overall length that extends between its front and back openings, and wherein the metallic blade terminals are positioned behind the front opening of the housing by an amount that exceeds twenty percent of the overall length of the dielectric housing.

3. The plug connector of claim 1 further including a trigger comprising a cantilever mounted on the top side of the housing structure with its fixed end positioned toward the back opening and its free end extending toward the front opening, the free end of the trigger being positioned to slidably engage the free end of the latch when the trigger is depressed.

4. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein the optical fiber comprises a glass fiber.

5. The plug connector of claim 4 wherein the fiber-holding structure comprises

a cylindrical ferrule having an axial bore for receiving the glass fiber; and

a base member for holding an end portion of the ferrule, said base member including an axial bore that is collinear with the axial bore of the ferrule.

6. The plug connector of claim 5 further including an annular spring, which is disposed about the base member and which presses against a flange thereof, said spring also pressing against one of the internal surfaces of the first cavity to urge one end of the fiber-holding apparatus through the front opening.

7. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein the housing structure comprises first and second interlocking members, the first member containing the cantilever latch and the second member containing the cantilever trigger, and wherein the second member includes a front end portion that engages and interlocks with a back end portion of the first member.

8. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductors are individually insulated.

9. The plug connector of claim 8 wherein each metallic blade terminal is shaped to pierce the insulation of an insulated electrical conductor.

10. The plug connector of claim 1 wherein N is greater than 1.

11. The plug connector of claim 1 further including a length of cable attached thereto, said cable including at least one optical fiber and at least one electrical conductor.

12. In combination, a hybrid plug connector attached to one or more transmission cables, said cables including:

(i) an optical fiber; and

(ii) a plurality of insulated electrical wires, the hybrid plug connector comprising;

(i) a central axis that extends between front and back ends of a dielectric housing;

(ii) a projection at the front end of the housing that contains the optical fiber for insertion into a mating optical receptacle, said projection extending in the direction of the central axis;

(iii) a wire-holding structure, positioned on the bottom side of the housing, for holding the insulated wires;

(iv) a plurality of metallic blades that extend into the wire-holding structure and are shaped to pierce the insulation of and make electrical contact with each of the insulated wires, said blades being positioned behind the front end of the housing by an amount that exceeds twenty percent of the overall length of the dielectric housing; and

(v) a latch for securing the housing to the receptacle, the latch including a cantilever mounted on a top-side of the housing, the cantilever latch having a fixed end that is positioned toward the front end of the housing and a free end that extends toward a back end of the housing.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the dielectric housing further includes a trigger comprising a cantilever mounted on the top-side of the housing, the trigger having a fixed end that is positioned toward the back end of the housing and a free end that extends toward the front end of the housing, the free end of the trigger being positioned to slidably engage the free end of the latch when the trigger is depressed.

14. The combination of claim 12 further including a length of shrink tubing, which is positioned at the back end of the housing and holds the electrical wires in engagement with the crimp sleeve.

15. The combination of claim 12 wherein the optical fiber is enclosed within a layer of polymeric material to form a buffered fiber.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the transmission cable further comprises a plurality of filamentary strength members surrounding the buffered fiber and a plastic jacket surrounding the filamentary strength members.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the optical fiber comprises a glass fiber.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein the filamentary strength members are captured between a crimp tube that extends from the back end of the housing and a crimp sleeve.

19. The combination of claim 12 wherein the dielectric housing comprises first and second interlocking members, the first member containing the front-end projection and the second member containing the wire-holding structure.

20. The combination of claim 12 wherein the optical fiber and the plurality of insulated electrical wires reside within the same cable.

21. A jumper comprising a hybrid communication cable terminated in a hybrid plug at each end;

the hybrid communication cable comprising an optical fiber and an insulated electrical wire enclosed within a plastic jacket,

each hybrid plug comprising;

a dielectric housing having an overall length that extends between a front opening from which an end portion of the optical fiber protrudes and a back opening through which the optical fiber is received;

a cantilever latch that is mounted on a top side of the housing for interlocking the housing with a mating jack receptacle;

a cantilever trigger that is mounted on the top side of the housing and positioned to deflect the cantilever latch downward when the trigger is depressed; and

an electrical connection assembly positioned on a bottom side of the housing, the assembly including at least one metallic blade terminal that pierces the insulation and makes electrical contact with the insulated electrical wire, said metallic blade terminal being positioned behind the front opening of the housing by an amount that exceeds fifty percent of the overall length of the dielectric housing.

22. The jumper of claim 21 wherein the dielectric housing comprises front and back interlocking members, the front member containing the front-end projection and the cantilever latch;

and the back member containing the electrical connection assembly and the cantilever trigger.

23. The jumper of claim 21 wherein the optical fiber comprises a glass fiber.

24. An optical/electrical plug connector comprising an optical plug, a latch, and an electrical plug,

the optical plug comprising an elongated plastic body having length, a generally square cross section, and a bore that extends along the length between front and back ends of the body, an optical fiber being disposed within the bore and projecting from the front end thereof;

the latch being affixed to the plastic body on a top side thereof; and

the electrical plug being affixed to the plastic body on a bottom side thereof, said electrical plug including a plurality of metallic contacts that are positioned at a midpoint ±

30 percent of the length of the plastic body between its front and back ends, whereby electrical connection is delayed during insertion of the plastic body into a mating receptacle.

25. The optical/electrical plug connector of claim 24 wherein the latch comprises an cantilever that is molded into the top side of the plug body, the cantilever having a fixed end that is positioned toward the front end of the plastic body and a free end that extends toward the back end of the plastic body.

26. The optical/electrical plug connector of claim 25 wherein the plastic body comprises first and second interlocking members, the first member containing the cantilever latch and the second member containing the electrical plug, and wherein the second member includes a front end portion that engages and interlocks with a back end portion of the first member.

27. The optical/electrical plug connector of claim 24 further including a length of cable attached thereto, said cable including an optical fiber, a plurality of insulated electrical wires, and a plurality of yarn-like strength members, all surrounded by a plastic jacket.

28. The optical/electrical plug connector of claim 27 wherein the metallic contacts of the electrical plug comprises insulation-piercing blades that are pressed into engagement with the electrical wires.