OPTICAL CONNECTOR APPARATUS

• US 20160062047A1
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,151,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An optical connector apparatus comprising:

a ferrule holding an optical fiber of an electro-optical composite cable and having a contact portion electrically connected with a metal conductor of the electro-optical composite cable; and

a connection object making an optical connection and an electrical connection simultaneously with the ferrule, wherein

the connection object comprises;

a receiving portion receiving an end portion of the ferrule;

a conductive portion provided on at least an end portion of the receiving portion; and

an optical connection portion provided inside the receiving portion,

an end portion of the ferrule being received in the receiving portion so that the optical connection is made by facing an end surface of the optical fiber toward the optical connection portion while the electrical connection is made by contacting the contact portion to the conductive portion.

2. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving portion has a tubular shape, and

the conductive portion is provided on an edge portion of the receiving portion.

3. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the ferrule has a received portion received by the receiving portion and a large diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of a received portion, and

the contact portion is a contact surface which defines a boundary between the received portion and the large diameter portion.

4. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection object comprises:

an optical element having the optical connection portion; and

a housing having the receiving portion and holding the optical element.

5. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection object comprises:

an optical element having the optical connection portion;

an insulation housing holding the optical element; and

a connection member held by the housing and having the conductive portion and the receiving portion.

6. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the connection member is made of a conductor.

7. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the receiving portion receives an end portion of the ferrule in a predetermined direction, and

the connection member further comprises a spring portion which supports the conductive portion so that the conductive portion is displaceable in the predetermined direction.

8. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the receiving portion has a tubular shape, and

the spring portion extends in a peripheral direction of the receiving portion.

9. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a bias member biasing the contact portion of the ferrule toward the receiving portion of the housing.

10. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection object comprises:

a mating ferrule holding an optical fiber of an electro-optical composite cable and having a mating contact portion electrically connected with a metal conductor of the electro-optical composite cable; and

a connection member having the conductive portion and the receiving portion, the connection member further comprising a mating conductive portion and a mating connection portion, the mating connection portion communicating with the receiving portion and being connected with an end portion of the mating ferrule, the mating conductive portion being provided on at least an end portion of the mating connection portion and electrically connected with the conductive portion,

an end portion of the mating ferrule being connected with the mating connection portion so that the mating contact portion is brought into contact with the mating conductive portion and an end surface of a mating optical fiber functions as the optical connection portion.

11. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the connection member is made of a conductor.

12. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the connection portion is the receiving portion which receives the end portion of the ferrule in the predetermined direction, and

the connection member further comprises a spring portion which supports the conductive portion so that the conductive portion is displaceable in the predetermined direction.

13. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the receiving portion has a tubular shape, and

the spring portion extends in a peripheral direction of the receiving portion.

14. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a recess portion is formed on the end portion of the first ferrule, an end of the first optical fiber is positioned within the recess portion so as not to project from an end surface of the first ferrule.

15. The optical connector apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the recess portion has a fan shape having a central angle of 180 degrees or less when seen from the front end of the ferrule.