Hybrid data plug

• US 6,599,025 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1998
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Deutsch, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US09/174,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53-87, 439/577
• US Class Current: 385/75
• 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: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

Abstract

The hybrid data plug has a plurality of electrical contacts (20,21;26,27) and a plurality of light waveguides (30,31). The light waveguides (30,31) are held in a ferrule (16). The ferrule (16) is arranged in a region between the electrical contacts (20,21;26,27).

Claims

1. A hybrid data plug, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in pairs and a plurality of light waveguides; and

a ferrule in the housing for holding the plurality of light waveguides, the ferrule located in a region between two pairs of electrical contacts;

wherein the data plug has a cross-section that is orthogonal with respect to the longitudinal extent of the light waveguides, wherein the two pairs of electrical contacts reside in an edge region of the cross-section at a distance from each other, and wherein the ferrule is provided in a center of the cross-section.

2. The data plug according to claim 1, wherein the ferrule has a guide.

3. The data plug according to claim 2, wherein the guide has at least one recess at a perimeter of the ferrule extending along the ferrule.

4. A hybrid data plug, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of electrical contacts in a first plane; and

a ferrule for holding a plurality of light waveguides in a second plane;

wherein the data plug has a cross-section that is orthogonal to the first and second planes, and wherein the ferrule is disposed in a center portion of the cross-section of the data plug.

5. The hybrid data plug of claim 4, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are disposed in an edge region of the housing.

6. The hybrid data plug of claim 4, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprises two pairs of electrical contacts.

7. The hybrid data plug of claim 6, wherein the ferrule is disposed in a region between the two pairs of electrical contacts.

8. A housing for a hybrid data plug, comprising:

a plurality of electrical contacts disposed in an edge region of the housing;

a single ferrule disposed in a region between the electrical contacts; and

a plurality of light wave guides disposed within the ferrule;

wherein the housing has a cross-section that is orthogonal with respect to a longitudinal extent of the light waveguide, and wherein the ferrule is located in a center of the cross-section.

9. The housing of claim 8, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in pairs.

10. The housing of claim 8, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprise two pairs of electrical contacts.

11. The housing of claim 8, wherein the electrical contacts are in a first plane, wherein the plurality of light waveguides are in a second plane, and wherein the cross-section is orthogonal to the first and second planes.

12. The housing of claim 8, wherein the ferrule has a guide.

13. The housing of claim 12, wherein the guide has at least one recess at a perimeter of the ferrule extending along the ferrule.