Electrical-optical hybrid connector

• US 5,109,452 A
• Filed: 07/16/1990
• Issued: 04/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Puritan Bennett Corp. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Puritan Bennett Corp. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Borsuk, Leslie M., Selvin, Gerald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALMER, PHAN T H
• Application Number:
  US07/553,998
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.20, 350/96.21
• US Class Current: 385/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 coded with colour
• 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 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3847 with means preventing fibre end damage, e.g. recessed fibre surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3865 fabricated by using moulding techniques shaping techniques of plastic materials in general B29C; producing plastic optical fiber connectors B29D11/0075
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3873 Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• 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: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling

Abstract

A hybrid electrical optical connector employing a push-pull plug receptacle combination. A hood structure protruding from the plug component of the connector simultaneously serves to ensure that the plug is properly rotationally oriented with respect to the receptacle prior to insertion, that the individual terminals are guided toward the respective terminal receiving channels, and that the plug is latched in place once fully engaged. A rigid armature allows the plug to be partially assembled and tested prior to final overmolding. In its final overmolded form the plug is impervious to the influx of contamination and can withstand a substantial amount of physical abuse. The inexpensive materials used in the construction of the plug and the ease of assembly yield a low cost plug well suited for use in conjunction with a disposable peripheral device.

Claims

1. A push-pull hybrid connector for simultaneously coupling electrical and optical conduits, comprising:

a receptacle, said receptacle having arranged therein a first set of electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a first set of electrical and optical conduits, said receptacle having formed therein receiving channels extending from an exterior surface of said receptacle to the terminals arranged therein and further having formed therein a groove encircling said receiving channels so as to define a proximal and distal wall with respect to said receiving channels; and

a plug have arranged therein and protruding therefrom a second set of electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a second set of electrical and optical conduits, said protruding terminals being arranged so as to be receivable within said receptacle'"'"'s receiving channels, said plug further having a hood extending therefrom encircling and substantially extending beyond said protruding terminals and dimensioned for receipt within said receptacle'"'"'s groove, said hood having an interior surface dimensioned to be tightly received about the proximal wall of said receptacle, said hood having an exterior surface formed to enable said hood to be received within said groove only when said plug is in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the receptacle and further formed to latchingly engage said distal wall upon insertion of said plug'"'"'s terminals into said receptacle'"'"'s receiving channels sufficiently far to contact said receptacle'"'"'s terminals.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said receptacle has a raised segment proximally extending from said distal wall and wherein the exterior surface of said plug'"'"'s hood has formed therein a groove to enable said hood to avoid the receptacle'"'"'s raised segment when in a preselected rotational orientation and allow insertion of said hood into said receptacle'"'"'s groove.

3. A push-pull hybrid connector for simultaneously coupling electrical and optical conduits, such connector including a plug, having arranged therein and protruding therefrom electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a first set of such electrical and optical conduits, such connector further including a receptacle, having arranged therein electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a second set of electrical and optical conduits, said receptacle having formed therein receiving channels for receiving the protruding portion of the plug'"'"'s terminals to enable contact with the receptacle'"'"'s terminals and further having formed therein a deep groove encircling said receiving channels to define a proximal and distal wall with respect to said receiving channels, said plug further comprising:

a hood extending from said plug encircling and substantially extending beyond said protruding terminals and dimensioned for receipt within said receptacle'"'"'s groove, said hood having an interior surface dimensioned to be tightly received about the proximal wall of said receptacle, said hood having an exterior surface formed to enable said hood to be received within said groove only when said plug is in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the receptacle and further formed to latchingly engage said distal wall when said plug'"'"'s terminals are in contact with said receptacle'"'"'s terminals.

4. The connector of claim 3 wherein said receptacle has a void formed in its distal wall, wherein said plug'"'"'s hood is formed of slightly resilient material and wherein a raised mound is formed on said hood'"'"'s exterior surface, dimensioned and positioned to snap into the void of the receptacle'"'"'s distal wall when said plug is in a fully inserted position within said receptacle.

5. The connector of claim 4 wherein said raised mound has a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface and wherein said forward facing surface rises above the hood'"'"'s exterior surface at a shallower angle than the angle at which the rearward facing surface rises above the exterior surface.

6. The connector plug of claim 5 further comprising an overmolding substantially encapsulating said rigid molding having positioned therein said cable'"'"'s jacket, said conduits and said electrical and optical terminals.

7. A hybrid connector plug for simultaneously coupling electrical and optical conduits contained within a jacketed cable to a receptacle having positioned therein electrical and optical terminals, comprising:

a single piece, substantially rigid molding to aid in the assembly of said plug and ultimately to be substantially incorporated within said plug, said molding including an apertured front wall and further formed to releasably grasp an end of said cable'"'"'s jacket, guide electrical and optical conduits extending from within said cable towards said front wall and to enable electrical and optical terminals, operatively affixed to said conduits, to be removably positioned so as to protrude through said apertures of said front wall.