Optical connector apparatus

• US 9,880,360 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Inventors: Shimazu, Hideto, Hashiguchi, Osamu, Fukayama, Kenzo, Izaki, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lepisto, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiem, Erin
• Application Number:
  US14/930,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20160070073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/665 with alkali or alkaline earth metals
• 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 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3855 characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule G02B6/3854 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3877 Split sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• 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 6/4293 hybrid electrical and optical connections for transmitting electrical and optical signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/18 by crimping H01R4/01, H01R4/2495 take precedence; for coaxial cables H01R9/0518

Abstract

An optical connector apparatus includes a connector which is connected to an electro-optical composite cable including an optical fiber and a metal conductor, and a connection object to be connected. The connector is provided with a ferrule which has a conductive portion on at least a part of the surface thereof. The connection object to be connected is provided with an electrically conductive connection member to be connected to the ferrule. The ferrule and the cable are connected by a crimping structure. When the ferrule is inserted in the connection member, the connector and the connection object to be connected are electrically and optically connected to each other. Provided is also an optical connector apparatus which comprises a connector having a plurality of ferrules having distances between the end of the ferrules and the conductive portions so that the timing of the connection of the connector to the object to be connected is delayed, and thus the optical connector apparatus is capable of hot swapping. The connection object to be connected can be a combination of an adapter and a mating connector, or an optical element and an adapter which holds the same, etc.

Claims

1. A wiring structure for an electro-optical composite cable and a ferrule having conductivity, wherein

the electro-optical composite cable has:

an optical fiber;

a protection cover covering the optical fiber;

a metal conductor positioned on an outer circumference of the protection cover and constituting a pipe-shaped outer conductor by disposing a plurality of metal wires without gaps therebetween; and

an outer jacket covering them,

the ferrule has;

a main body portion inserted with the optical fiber and holding the inserted optical fiber in a center part of the ferrule; and

a wiring portion connected with the metal conductor, the main body portion and the wiring portion of the ferrule having conductivity, the wiring portion having a tubular portion into which the protection cover is inserted, and

the wiring structure is characterized in that the electro-optical composite cable is held by and fixed to the ferrule by positioning the metal conductor on an outer circumference of the tubular portion, the metal conductor and the outer jacket being adjusted so that an outer diameter of the metal conductor is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the outer jacket, followed by inserting the metal conductor and the outer jacket, both having substantially the same outer diameter, into a sleeve, and further followed by crimping the sleeve, thereby the wiring structure is used for an optical transmission, and the metal conductor is electrically connected with the ferrule.

2. A wiring structure for an electro-optical composite cable and a ferrule having conductivity, wherein

the electro-optical composite cable has:

an optical fiber strand;

a metal conductor positioned on an outer circumference of the optical fiber strand and constituting a pipe-shaped outer conductor by disposing a plurality of metal wires without gaps therebetween; and

an outer jacket covering them,

the ferrule has;

a main body portion inserted with the optical fiber strand and holding the inserted optical fiber strand in a center part of the ferrule; and

a wiring portion connected with the metal conductor and holding and fixing the outer jacket, the main body portion and the wiring portion of the ferrule having conductivity,

the wiring portion has;

a first tubular portion having a first inner radius corresponding to a length between the center part of the optical fiber strand and an outer circumference of the metal conductor; and

a second tubular portion having a second inner radius corresponding to a length between the center part of the optical fiber strand and an outer circumference of the outer jacket, and

the wiring structure is characterized in that the electro-optical composite cable is held by and fixed to the ferrule by inserting the electro-optical composite cable into the wiring portion, and followed by crimping the wiring portion, thereby the wiring structure is used for an optical transmission and, the ferrule is electrically connected with the metal conductor.

3. A wiring structure for an electro-optical composite cable and a ferrule having conductivity, wherein

the electro-optical composite cable has:

an optical fiber strand; and

a metal conductor positioned on an outer circumference of the optical fiber strand and constituting a pipe-shaped outer conductor by disposing a plurality of metal wires without gaps therebetween; and

an outer jacket covering them,

the ferrule has;

a main body portion inserted with the optical fiber strand and holding the inserted optical fiber strand in a center part of the ferrule; and

a wiring portion connected with the metal conductor and holding and fixing the outer jacket, the main body portion and the wiring portion of the ferrule having conductivity, and

the wiring structure is characterized in that the electro-optical composite cable is held by and fixed to the ferrule by inserting the metal conductor into a sleeve so that an outer diameter of the sleeve is substantially equal to an outer diameter of outer jacket, followed by inserting the electro-optical composite cable into the wiring portion, and further followed by crimping the wiring portion, thereby the wiring structure is used for an optical transmission, and the ferrule is electrically connected with the metal conductor.

4. A wiring structure for an electro-optical composite cable and a ferrule having conductivity, wherein

the electro-optical composite cable has:

an optical fiber;

a protection cover covering the optical fiber;

a metal conductor positioned on an outer circumference of the protection cover and constituting a pipe-shaped outer conductor by disposing a plurality of metal wires without gaps therebetween; and

an outer jacket covering them,

the ferrule has;

a main body portion inserted with the optical fiber and holding the inserted optical fiber in a center part of the ferrule; and

a wiring portion connected with the metal conductor and holding and fixing the outer jacket, the main body portion and the wiring portion of the ferrule having conductivity,

the wiring structure is characterized in that the electro-optical composite cable is held by and fixed to the ferrule by inserting a sleeve between the protection cover and the metal conductor so that an outer diameter of the metal conductor is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the outer jacket, followed by inserting the electro-optical composite cable into the wiring portion, and further followed by crimping the wiring portion, thereby the wiring structure is used for an optical transmission, and the ferrule is electrically connected with the metal conductor.

5. A wiring method for an electro-optical composite cable and a ferrule having conductivity, wherein

the electro-optical composite cable has:

an optical fiber;

a protection cover covering the optical fiber;

a metal conductor positioned on an outer circumference of the protection cover and constituting a pipe-shaped outer conductor by disposing a plurality of metal wires without gaps therebetween; and

an outer jacket covering them,

the ferrule has;

a main body portion inserted with the optical fiber and holding the inserted optical fiber in a center part of the ferrule; and

a wiring portion connected with the metal conductor, and

the wiring method is characterized by comprising the steps of;

exposing the metal conductor and removing the outer jacket;

cutting the exposed metal conductor into a predetermined length and exposing the protection cover;

exposing the optical fiber and removing the protection cover;

inserting the protection cover into a tubular portion of the wiring portion and positioning the metal conductor on an outer circumference of the tubular portion;

inserting the outer jacket and the metal conductor positioned on the outer circumference of the tubular portion into a sleeve; and

crimping the sleeve.

6. A wiring method for an electro-optical composite cable and a ferrule, wherein

the electro-optical composite cable has:

an optical fiber strand;

a protection cover covering the optical fiber strand;

a metal conductor positioned on an outer circumference of the optical fiber and constituting a pipe-shaped outer conductor by disposing a plurality of metal wires without gaps therebetween; and

an outer jacket covering them,

the ferrule has;

a main body portion inserted with the optical fiber strand and holding the inserted optical fiber in a center part of the ferrule; and

a wiring portion connected with the metal conductor and holding and fixing the outer jacket,

the wiring portion has;

a first tubular portion having a first inner radius corresponding to a length between the center part of the optical fiber strand and an outer perimeter of the metal conductor; and

a second tubular portion having a second inner radius corresponding to a length between the center part of the optical fiber strand and an outer circumference of the outer jacket, and

the wiring method is characterized by comprising the steps of;

exposing the metal conductor and removing the outer jacket;

cutting the exposed metal conductor into a predetermined length and exposing the protection cover;

exposing the optical fiber strand and removing the protection cover;

inserting the electro-optical composite cable into the wiring portion; and

crimping the wiring portion inserted with the electro-optical composite cable.

7. A wiring method for an electro-optical composite cable and a ferrule, wherein

the electro-optical composite cable has:

an optical fiber strand;

a protection cover covering the optical fiber strand;

a metal conductor positioned on an outer circumference of the optical fiber and constituting a pipe-shaped outer conductor by disposing a plurality of metal wires without gaps therebetween; and

an outer jacket covering them,

the ferrule has;

a main body portion inserted with the optical fiber and holding the inserted optical fiber in a center part of the ferrule; and

a wiring portion connected with the metal conductor and holding and fixing the outer jacket, and

the wiring method is characterized by comprising the steps of;

exposing the metal conductor and removing the outer jacket;

cutting the exposed metal conductor into a predetermined length and exposing the protection cover;

exposing the optical fiber strand and removing the protection cover;

inserting the exposed metal conductor into a sleeve having an outer diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the outer jacket;

inserting the electro-optical composite cable attached with the sleeve into the wiring portion; and

crimping the wiring portion inserted with the electro-optical composite cable attached with the sleeve.

8. A wiring method for an electro-optical composite cable and a ferrule, wherein

the electro-optical composite cable has:

an optical fiber;

a protection cover covering the optical fiber;

a metal conductor positioned on an outer circumference of the optical fiber and constituting a pipe-shaped outer conductor by disposing a plurality of metal wires without gaps therebetween; and

an outer jacket covering them,

the ferrule having a main body portion inserted with the optical fiber and holding the inserted optical fiber in a center part of the ferrule; and

a wiring portion connected with the metal conductor and holding and fixing the outer jacket, and

the wiring method is characterized by comprising the steps of;

exposing the metal conductor and removing the outer jacket;

cutting the exposed metal conductor into a predetermined length and exposing the protection cover;

exposing the optical fiber and removing the protection cover;

inserting the sleeve between the protection cover and the metal conductor so that an outer diameter of the metal conductor is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the outer jacket;

inserting the electro-optical composite cable attached with the sleeve into the wiring portion; and

crimping the wiring portion inserted with the electro-optical composite cable attached with the sleeve.