Optical/electric composite connector

• US 6,688,779 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Furukawa Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishita, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasri, Javaid H.
• Application Number:
  US10/024,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20020102066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 385/101, 385/53, 385/76, 385/77, 385/139, 385/88, 385/89, 385/92, 385/75, 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: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/421 the intermediate optical component consisting of a short length of fibre, e.g. fibre stub
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4277 Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4293 hybrid electrical and optical connections for transmitting electrical and optical signals

Abstract

An optical/electric composite connector is capable of firmly shielding optical elements, while the optical/electric composite connector is capable of performing both an optical connection of the optical elements and an electric connection by electric terminals. An optical/electric composite connection (1) is formed by connecting a first connector housing (3) and a second connector housing (4). The first connector housing (3) stores the optical elements and is formed by electric conductive resin. The second connector housing (4) is formed by non-electric conductive resin. Both the first connector housing (3) and the second connector housing (4) are detachably connected to each other. A metal case (6) for fixing the optical elements stored in the first connector housing is mounted on the first connector housing (3).

Claims

1. An optical/electric composite connector comprising:

a first connector housing for storing thereinto an optical element;

a second connector housing comprising an electric terminal;

a metal case fixing the optical element stored in said first connector housing, wherein the metal case is mounted on said first connector housing; and

a spring mechanism provided on a surface of said metal case on the optical-element-fixing side thereof, said spring mechanism urging the optical element to a side of said second connector housing;

wherein

the first connector housing comprises electrically conductive resin; and

the second connector housing comprises non-electrically conductive resin.

2. An optical/electric composite connector according to claim 1 wherein:

said second connector housing is provided on a side of one end of said first connector housing, and into which a connection end surface of an optical fiber coupled to said optical element is inserted; and

wherein said second connector housing comprises an electrical terminal.

3. An optical/electric composite connector according to claim 1 wherein:

said first connector housing and said second connector housing are detachably connected to each other.

4. The optical/electric composite connector of claim 1, wherein said first and second connector housings are formed substantially of polybutylene telephtalate.

5. The optical/electric composite connector of claim 1, wherein said electric conductive resin comprises carbon filler.

6. The optical/electrical composite connector of claim 1, wherein said metal case is electrically coupled to said first connector housing and is configured to shield electrical noise.

7. The optical/electric composite connector of claim 1, wherein said non-electric conductive resin comprises glass filler.