CONNECTOR ENGAGEMENT SENSING MECHANISM

• US 20170003459A1
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Ng, Chi Kong Paul, Takeuchi, Kenichiro, Lu, Haiguang
• Granted Patent: US 10,690,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence

Abstract

A connector assembly includes an adapter, a housing, a ferrule, and a sensor. The housing is received by the adapter and has a bore. The ferrule is translatable within the bore of the housing. The sensor is mounted on the housing or on the adapter. The sensor is configured for detecting translation of the ferrule. An electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate translation of the ferrule to a predetermined position.

Claims

1. An energy conveying connector for mating with an energy conveying mating connector, comprising:

a receptacle dimensioned for receiving the mating connector; and

a sensor mounted to the receptacle, wherein when the mating connector is received at a predetermined position within the receptacle, the sensor detects the receipt of the mating connector at the predetermined position within the receptacle and either generates or stops generating an electrical signal to indicate that the mating connector is received at the predetermined position.

2. The energy conveying connector of claim 1, wherein the energy conveying connector is an energy signal conveying connector.

3. The energy conveying connector of claim 2, wherein the energy signal conveying connector is an optical or electrical connector for holding an optical fiber or electrically conductive element.

4. The energy conveying connector of claim 3, wherein, when the mating connector is received at the predetermined position and is holding the optical fiber or electrically conductive element, the optical fiber or electrically conductive element is at a predetermined alignment position within the energy conveying connector.

5. The energy conveying connector of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an electrical switch such that when the mating connector is received at the predetermined position within the receptacle, the electrical switch is contacted by the mating connector to cause the electrical switch to either generate or stop generating the electrical signal to indicate that the mating connector is received at the predetermined position.

6. The energy conveying connector of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an electro-optical sensor.

7. An energy conveying connector assembly, comprising:

the energy conveying connector of claim 1; and

the mating connector.

8. A connector assembly comprising:

a housing having a bore;

a ferrule translatable within the bore of the housing; and

a sensor mounted in the bore of the housing and configured for detecting translation of the ferrule, wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate translation of the ferrule to a predetermined position.

9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes a probe configured for contacting the ferrule during translation of the ferrule such that the probe translates with the ferrule during contact with the ferrule, and wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the ferrule has translated to the predetermined position as a function of the translation of the probe.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a pressure or displacement sensor.

11. The connector assembly of claim 8, further comprising a resilient element in abutment with the ferrule, wherein the sensor detects changes in length of the resilient element during translation of the ferrule.

13. The connector assembly of claim 8, further comprising a cable including a second sensor positioned along a length of the cable, wherein an electrical characteristic of the second sensor changes when the surface of the cable over which the second sensor lies deforms.

14. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein an alert signal is generated by a remote electronic device when an electrical signal corresponding to a changed electrical characteristic of the second sensor is conducted to the remote electronic device and has at least a minimum value.

15. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises:

an electrically conductive first contact mounted to the housing; and

an electrically conductive second contact mounted to the ferrule,

wherein the electrically conductive second contact is conductively coupled with the first contact when the ferrule is in a first position of translation, and the electrically conductive second contact is not conductively coupled with the first contact when the ferrule is in a second position of translation.

16. A system comprising:

a circuit configured for providing a control signal to a peripheral component; and

the connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the second contact is mounted on an end of the ferrule such that when the first and the second contacts are conductively coupled, the circuit stops providing the control signal to the peripheral component.

17. A system comprising:

a circuit configured for providing a control signal to a peripheral component; and

the connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the second contact is mounted on an end of the ferrule such that when the first and second contacts are conductively coupled, the circuit provides the control signal to the peripheral component.

12. (canceled)

18. A connector assembly comprising:

an adapter;

a housing received by the adapter and having a bore;

a ferrule translatable within the bore of the housing; and

a sensor mounted on the housing or on the adapter, the sensor being configured for detecting translation of the ferrule, wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate translation of the ferrule to a predetermined position.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18, wherein the sensor includes a probe configured for contacting (i) the adapter when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) the housing when the sensor is mounted on the adapter such that the probe translates (i) against the adapter when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) with the housing when the sensor is mounted on the adapter, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the ferrule has translated to the predetermined position as a function of the translation of the probe.

20. The connector assembly of claim 18, wherein the sensor is a displacement sensor or a pressure sensor.

21. The connector assembly of claim 18, further comprising a projection extending from the housing, wherein (i) the sensor is mounted on the projection when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) the probe is configured for contacting the projection when the sensor is mounted on the adapter.

22. The connector assembly of claim 18, wherein the housing includes a main body and a projection extending from the main body, wherein the sensor is mounted between the main body and the projection on either of the main body and the projection, and wherein the sensor includes a probe configured for contacting (i) the projection when the sensor is mounted on the main body or (ii) the main body when the sensor is mounted on the projection such that the probe translates (a) with the projection when the sensor is mounted on the main body or (b) against the main body when the sensor is mounted on the projection, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the ferrule has translated to the predetermined position as a function of the translation of the probe.

23. The connector assembly of claim 22, wherein the projection is hingedly connected to the main body when the sensor is on the main body.

24. The connector assembly of claim 22, wherein the projection is integral with the main body.

25. The connector assembly of claim 18, further comprising a projection extending from the housing, wherein (i) the sensor is mounted on the projection when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) the sensor is configured for contacting the projection when the sensor is mounted on the adapter, and wherein, during translation of the ferrule a minimum distance, (i) the sensor is pressed by a force from the adapter when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) the projection is pressed by a force against the sensor when the sensor is mounted on the adapter, and wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the ferrule has translated to the predetermined position as a function of the force acting on the sensor.

26. The connector assembly of claim 18, wherein the housing includes a main body and a projection extending from the main body, wherein the sensor is mounted between the main body and the projection on either of the main body and the projection, and wherein (i) the sensor is configured for contacting the main body when the sensor is mounted on the projection or (ii) the sensor is configured for contacting the projection when the sensor is mounted on the main body, and wherein, during translation of the ferrule a minimum distance, (i) the sensor is pressed by a force against the main body when the sensor is mounted on the projection or (ii) the projection is pressed by a force against the sensor when the sensor is mounted on the main body, and wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the ferrule has translated to the predetermined position as a function of the force acting on the sensor.

27. The connector assembly of claim 26, wherein the projection is hingedly connected to the main body when the sensor is on the main body.

28. The connector assembly of claim 26, wherein the projection is integral with the main body.

29. (canceled)