Optical/electrical composite connector and manufacturing method thereof

• US 8,714,836 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Daikuhara, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Tina
• Application Number:
  US12/849,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20110033155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/72
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/26 Optical coupling means G02B6/36, G02B6/42 take precedence
• 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 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

In an optical/electrical composite connector including a male connector and a female connector, the male connector includes a ferrule provided at an end portion of an optical fiber on a side of the male connector which is connected to the female connector, and an electrode terminal. The female connector includes a core to transmit an optical signal, a cladding to cover the core, an electric wiring provided on an outer wall surface of the cladding, a sleeve in which the ferrule is fitted, the sleeve provided at an end portion of the cladding on a side of the female connector which is connected to the male connector, and a lens provided in the sleeve. When the ferrule and the sleeve are fitted together, the electrode terminal and the electric wiring are electrically connected and the optical fiber and the core are optically connected through the lens.

Claims

1. An optical/electrical composite connector including a male connector and a female connector for making an optical fiber connection and an electric wiring connection,

the male connector comprising:

a housing;

a ferrule provided at an end portion of an optical fiber on a side of the male connector which is connected to the female connector, wherein the optical fiber extends from a composite cable; and

an electrode terminal formed of a resilient material and connected to an electrical wire of the composite cable, wherein the electrode terminal extends along an inner wall of the housing, and is out of contact with the optical fiber and the inner wall of the housing to be suspended in a space inside the housing,

the female connector comprising;

a core to transmit an optical signal;

a cladding to cover the core;

an electric wiring provided and exposed on an outer wall surface of the cladding;

a sleeve in which the ferrule of the male connector is fitted, the sleeve being provided at an end portion of the cladding on a side of the female connector which is connected to the male connector; and

a lens provided in the sleeve,

wherein, when the ferrule and the sleeve are fitted together, the electrode terminal of the male connector and the electric wiring of the female connector are electrically connected, with the electrode terminal being in contact with the electric wiring in the space inside the housing of the male connector, and the optical fiber of the male connector and the core of the female connector are optically connected through the lens.

2. The optical/electrical composite connector according to claim 1, wherein the cladding, the sleeve, and the lens in the female connector are formed of a same resin material.

3. The optical/electrical composite connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the male connector includes a first cylindrical part having an opening on the side of the male connector which is connected to the female connector, the electrode terminal and the ferrule being arranged in the opening of the first cylindrical part, and the female connector includes a second cylindrical part having an opening on the side of the female connector which is connected to the male connector, the electric wiring, the lens and the sleeve being arranged in the opening of the second cylindrical part, and

wherein, when the first cylindrical part is inserted in the second cylindrical part, the ferrule and the sleeve are fitted together.

4. The optical/electrical composite connector according to claim 1, wherein an optical waveguide including the core and the cladding in the female connector, and the electric wiring are connected directly to an optical-communication device which performs optical communication.

5. An optical/electrical composite connector connected to a composite cable and connectable to another connector, for making an optical fiber connection and an electric wiring connection with said another connector, the optical/electrical composite connector comprising:

a housing;

a ferrule provided at an end portion of the housing and is connected to an optical fiber extending from the composite cable; and

an electrode terminal formed of a resilient material and connected to an electrical wire of the composite cable, wherein the electrode terminal extends along an inner wall of the housing, and is out of contact with the optical fiber and the inner wall of the housing to be suspended in a space inside the housing and wherein the electrode terminal is connectable to an electric wiring of said another connector exposed inside a space inside a housing of said another connector,

wherein, when the optical/electrical composite connector and said another connector are fitted together, the electrode terminal and the electric wiring of said another connector are electrically connected, and the optical fiber of the connector is optically connected to an optical component of said another connector.