Stepped connector

• US 20090220196A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creganna Unlimited Company (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Smits, Matthijs P., Daane, Laurence A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3801 Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means splices by bonding G02B6/255; fusion splices G02B6/2551
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3809 without a ferrule embedding the fibre end, i.e. with bare fibre end
• 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: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A connector is provided. The connector includes a body extending a length along a central longitudinal axis. The body includes first and second elements that each include opposite first and second end portions. A third element is positioned between at least a portion of the first and second elements. A portion of the third element and a portion of the first element extend within the second element. A portion of the first element extends within the third element. The first end portions of the first and second elements are exposed with respect to the third element. The second end portions of the first and second elements are exposed with respect to the third element. The exposed first end portions of the first and second elements are spaced apart with respect to each other along the length of the body. The exposed second end portions of the first and second elements are spaced apart with respect to each other along the length of the body. The length of the body extends no greater than approximately 152 millimeters (approximately 6 inches).

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a body extending a length along a central longitudinal axis, the body comprising;

first and second elements each comprising opposite first and second end portions; and

a third element positioned between at least a portion of the first and second elements, a portion of the third element and a portion of the first element extending within the second element, a portion of the first element extending within the third element, the first end portions of the first and second elements being exposed with respect to the third element, the second end portions of the first and second elements being exposed with respect to the third element, the exposed first end portions of the first and second elements being spaced apart with respect to each other along the length of the body, the exposed second end portions of the first and second elements being spaced apart with respect to each other along the length of the body, the length of the body extending no greater than approximately 152 millimeters (approximately 6 inches).

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the length of the body extends no greater than approximately 102 millimeters (approximately 4 inches).

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the length of the body extends no greater than approximately 38 millimeters (approximately 1.5 inches).

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second elements is electrically conductive.

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second elements comprises an optical material.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the third element comprises an optical material or is electrically conductive.

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a passageway extending through at least a portion of the length of the body.

8. The connector according to claim 7 wherein the passageway extends through the first element.

9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third elements are concentrically aligned with respect to each other.

10. A connector assembly comprising:

a housing; and

a plurality of connectors held by the housing in an arrangement about a common central longitudinal axis of the housing, at least one of the plurality of connectors comprising;

a body comprising first and second elements and a third element positioned between at least a portion of the first and second elements, a portion of the third element and a portion of the first element extending within the second element, a portion of the first element extending within the third element, end portions of the first and second elements being exposed with respect to the third element, a portion of the third element separating the exposed end portions of the first and second elements along a length of the body such that the exposed end portions of the first and second elements are spaced apart with respect to each other along the length of the body.

11. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second elements is electrically conductive.

12. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second elements comprises an optical material.

13. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the third element comprises an optical material or is electrically conductive.

14. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the housing has a cylindrical shape such that the connector assembly is a circular connector assembly.

15. The connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the body further comprises a passageway extending through at least a portion of the length of the body.

16. A connector comprising:

a body comprising first and third elements, a portion of the first element extending within the third element, end portions of the first and third elements being exposed with respect to each other, the exposed end portions of the first and third elements being spaced apart with respect to each other along a length of the body, one of the first and third elements being electrically conductive and the other of the first and third elements comprising an optical material.

17. The connector according to claim 16, further comprising a second element, wherein a portion of each of the first and third elements extends within the second element.

18. The connector according to claim 17, wherein the first element is electrically conductive, the third element comprises an optical material, and the second element is electrically conductive.

19. The connector according to claim 17, wherein the first element comprises an optical material, the third element is electrically conductive, and the second element comprises an optical material.

20. The connector according to claim 16, wherein the body further comprises a passageway extending through at least a portion of the length of the body.