Electrical and fiber optic connector assembly

• US 4,678,264 A
• Filed: 10/04/1985
• Issued: 07/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Hoover, Charles D., Glover, Douglas W., Bowen, Terry P., Schaffer, Ronald R., Huber, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US06/784,275
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/96.22
• US Class Current: 385/89
• 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 6/3887 Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2462 the contact members being in a slotted bent configuration, e.g. slotted bight

Abstract

An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly terminates the electrical conductors and fiber optic transmission members of a cable so that the electrical conductors are electrically connected to electrical terminals latchably mounted in a housing member and for electrical connection to electrical paths of a circuit board and the fiber optic transmission members are optically connected to transmitting and sensing photoelectric devices which are mounted in the housing member and also electrically connected to electrical terminals latchably mounted in the housing member for electrical connection to electrical paths of the circuit board.

Claims

1. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly for terminating a cable having electrical conductors and fiber optic transmission members, for electrical connection of the electrical conductors to conductive members of an electrical article and optical connection of the fiber optic transmission members to photoelectric devices and then electrically connecting the photoelectric devices with other conductive members of the electrical article, comprising:

a dielectric housing having a termination section including a cable-receiving channel and including conductor-receiving passageways and fiber-receiving passageways extending forwardly from said channel, device-receiving cavities at forward ends of said fiber-receiving passageways, and terminal-receiving passageways extending inwardly from a mating face and in communication with said conductor-receiving passageways and said device-receiving cavities, said conductor-receiving passageways adapted to receive said conductors having first terminals terminated thereon and said fiber-receiving passageways adapted to receive and selectively locate end portions of said fiber optic transmission members;

photoelectric devices associated with respective said fiber optic transmission members and having fiber-connecting means for optical connection with said fiber optic transmission members, said photoelectric devices having electrical leads extending therefrom with second terminals terminated thereon, said photoelectric devices being located in said device-receiving cavities such that said fiber-connecting means are located at forward ends of said fiber-receiving passageways and said second terminals on said electrical leads are located in respective said terminal-receiving passageways proximate said mating face; and

a cover member securable to said housing at said termination section after said cable is received therealong and is adapted to secure and strain relieve said cable in said housing and to secure said conductors and said fiber optic transmission members in respective said conductor-receiving and fiber-receiving passageways and to secure said photoelectric devices in said housing, whereby

said end portions are receivable along said fiber-receiving passageways and are optically connectable to said photoelectric devices at and by said fiber-connecting means thereof, and said terminated conductors are receivable along said conductor-receiving passageways such that said first terminals are located in respective said terminal-receiving passageways proximate said mating face, after which said cover member secures said cable to said housing and said conductors and said fiber optic transmission members therewithin for connection to respective conductive members of an electrical article at said mating face.

2. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second terminals are aligned and opposed from said first terminals and said second and first terminals include opposed cantilever spring contact arms disposed in a housing opening extending inwardly from said mating face to receive therebetween an edge portion of a circuit board and engage and electrically connect to respective conductive pads of said circuit board.

3. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing member includes selectable keying members proximate said opening to cooperate with recesses in a panel through which said edge portion of said circuit board extends, thereby polarizing the connection of the connector assembly and said circuit board.

4. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is L-shaped and said mating face receives said electrical article at a right angle to a said cable extending from said housing.

5. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said photoelectric devices comprises a light-transmitting member and a light-receiving member each disposed in a respective dielectric package member, said package member including said fiber-connecting means.

6. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fiber-connecting means comprise annular projections on respective said photoelectric devices to receive thereinto ends of respective said fiber optic transmission members.

7. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein at least one of said housing and said cover member is adapted to provide space along said fiber-receiving passageways remote from said photoelectric devices whereinto respective said fiber optic transmission members are permitted to flex when said fiber ends are received into said fiber-connecting means and said cable is secured to said housing by said cover member whereby said optically connected fiber optic transmission members are unstressed.

8. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said termination section of said housing includes polarizing means cooperative with corresponding polarizing means of said cable for polarized receipt of said cable in said housing.

9. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly for terminating a cable having electrical conductors and fiber optic transmission members, for electrical connection of the electrical conductors to conductive members of an electrical article and optical connection of the fiber optic transmission members to photoelectric devices and then electrically connecting the photoelectric devices with other conductive members of the electrical article, comprising:

a dielectric receptacle housing including a plug-receiving cavity extending inwardly thereinto to a connection interface and further including photoelectric devices and terminal buses secured therein at selected locations along said connection interface, said photoelectric devices and terminal buses including respective contact means extending outwardly from said receptacle housing to engage and electrically connect to corresponding contact means of a mating electrical article; and

a dielectric plug housing assembly including a plug housing member and a cover member, said plug housing member including a cable-receiving channel and conductor-receiving passageways and fiber-receiving passageways extending forwardly from said cable-receiving channel to a connection interface of said plug housing member, said conductor-receiving passageways including terminal-receiving areas in communication with and extending rearwardly from said connection interface within which respective terminals are securable which terminate respective said conductors of said cable, said connection interface being adapted to receive contact portions of said terminal buses of said receptacle housing from forwardly thereof upon receipt of said plug housing assembly axially into said plug-receiving cavity of said receptacle housing to electrically engage corresponding contact means of said terminals in said plug housing assembly, and said plug housing member further including fiber end-receiving means along said connection interface at forward ends of respective said fiber-receiving passageways adapted to receive and center end portions of respective said fiber optic transmission members of said cable and positioned and further adapted to align with and optically connect said fiber end portions to respective said photoelectric devices upon receipt of said plug housing assembly axially into said plug-receiving cavity of said receptacle housing, and said cover member being securable to said plug housing member after said cable is received thereinto and is adapted to secure and strain relieve said cable and secure said terminals and said conductors and fiber optic transmission members of said cable in said plug housing member; and

means securing said plug housing assembly in said plug-receiving cavity of said receptacle housing.

10. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said fiber end-receiving means each comprise a pair of opposing semicylindrical projections having a space therebetween axially along which are centered facing channels cooperating to engage and hold in centered and axial alignment a said end of a respective said fiber optic transmission member disposed therein.

11. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said receptacle housing includes a bore extending from each said photoelectric device forwardly to said connector interface of said receptacle housing to receive force-fit thereinto an associated said pair of semicylindrical projections having a said fiber end therein and small bumps spaced therearound upon receipt of said plug housing assembly axially into said plug-receiving cavity of said receptacle housing for optically connecting each said fiber end to a respective said photoelectric device whereby said semicylindrical projections are forced against and clamp respective said fiber ends.

12. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein terminal buses include tab-like terminal-engaging contact sections extending into said plug-receiving cavity forwardly of said connector interface of said receptacle housing and vertical to the axis of connection, and said connector interface of said plug housing assembly includes corresponding vertical slots into which said tab-like contact sections are received to be disposed in electrical engagement between tines of a forked contact section of a respective terminal in said plug housing assembly.

13. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said securing means comprises latching projections extending outwardly from sides of said plug housing assembly and disposed on inwardly deflectable latch arms thereof, and latchable in corresponding latching recesses along sides of said plug-receiving cavity of said receptacle housing, said latch arms further including free ends extending rearwardly along said plug housing assembly and outwardly from said receptacle housing upon full assembly enabling inward deflection of said latch arms to delatch and remove said plug housing assembly from said receptacle housing.

14. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein each said terminal includes a conductor-connecting section comprising a pair of transverse slotted beams to receive an end portion of a respective said conductor forced into the slots thereof from laterally thereof.

15. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said receptacle housing includes slots therein to receiving electrical test probes thereinto to test the condition of said terminal buses.

16. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly for a terminating plurality of like cables each having electrical conductors and fiber optic transmission members, for electrical connection of the electrical conductors to conductive means of an electrical article and optical connection of the fiber optic transmission members to respective photoelectric devices and then electrically connecting the photoelectric devices with other conductive members of the electrical article, comprising:

a like plurality of similar dielectric plug housing assemblies each terminated to a respective said cable and including electrical terminals terminated to respective said electrical conductors, said terminals including forked contact sections proximate a connector interface of a said plug housing assembly, said connector interface including fiber-aligning means of forward ends of fiber-receiving passageways of said plug housing assembly to receive and hold axially aligned therein stripped ends of respective said fiber optic transmission members;

a receptacle housing shell having a like plurality of plug-receiving cavities separated by barriers and adapted to receive respective said plug housing assemblies axially thereinto such that the connector interfaces of said plug housing assemblies are adjacent a rear wall of said receptacle shell, the inside surface of said wall comprising a connector interface of said receptacle shell, said receptacle shell rear wall having secured therebehind a device-retaining assembly secured thereto including a plurality of photoelectric devices corresponding to and aligned with respective apertures of said rear wall and respective said fiber end-receiving means with said ends of said fiber optic transmission members of said plug housing assemblies upon assembly thereinto, each said photoelectric device having electrical leads extending outwardly from said device-retaining assembly to be electrically connected to said other conductive members of the electrical article, and said receptacle shell including secured therein a plurality of vertical bus bars forwardly of said rear wall and extending through slots through said barriers, said bus bars extending outwardly from said receptacle shell for termination to said conductive means of the electrical article, said bus bars including at least portions being axially aligned with one said electrical terminal of each of said plug housing assembly to be received into corresponding vertical slots of each said plug housing assembly extending rearwardly from a said connector interface thereof and to be received between tines of a said forked contact section of a said terminal to be electrically engaged therewith upon receipt of each said plug housing assembly axially into a respective said plug-receiving cavity of said receptacle shell; and

means securing each said plug housing assembly in a respective said plug-receiving cavity of said receptacle shell.

17. An electrical and fiber optic connector assembly as set forth in claim 41 wherein said device-retaining assembly comprises a forward wall member having a plurality of profiled bores therethrough having larger diameter sections along a rear surface thereof, and a rearward wall member having a like plurality of profiled bores therethrough aligned with said profiled bores of said forward wall member and having larger diameter sections along a forward surface thereof, said photoelectric devices being retainingly disposed in the paired large diameter bore sections of said forward and rearward wall members with said electrical leads thereof extending through small diameter bore sections of said rearward wall member and rearwardly therefrom, and said smaller diameter bore sections of said forward wall member adapted to receive respective forward ends of said fiber end-receiving means of said plug housing assemblies.