JP3331409B2 - Photoelectric composite connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to a housing in which an optical connection portion for making an optical connection to an optical fiber capable of simultaneously transmitting an optical signal and an electric signal and an electric connection portion for making an electrical connection are in the same housing. The present invention relates to a photoelectric composite type connector mounted on a substrate for mounting on a substrate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a general optical connector has a structure in which a terminal of an electric cable and a cable end of an optical fiber are replaced by using a housing of an electric connector to perform termination processing. For example, there is an optical connector having an optical fiber bending control structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-33755.

In this optical connector, a plug composed of a clamp member having a concave opening and a plate-like bottom is used, and a plurality of plugs sandwiched between the bottom and the clamp are exposed from the concave opening. By arranging the end of the optical fiber core wire in an inclined bottom surface portion separated at a predetermined interval by a side wall portion provided at a local portion on the bottom surface portion, the bending of the optical fiber core wire can be controlled. However, in the case of such an optical connector, optical signals can be transmitted in multiple systems by arranging a plurality of optical fibers in parallel. However, since the optical signal is basically transmitted exclusively through the optical fibers, electric signals are transmitted simultaneously. I can't.

Accordingly, recently, a photoelectric composite connector capable of simultaneously transmitting an optical signal and an electric signal has been developed.
One example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-7686. This photoelectric composite connector holds a pair of optical fibers for transmitting and receiving optical signals in a conductive case, and connects a pair of electric wires for transmitting and receiving electric signals (coaxial type cables can be used). A fiber optical signal transmitting element is optically coupled to a light emitting element provided in the mating connector, and an optical signal receiving element is optically coupled to a light receiving element provided in the mating connector. Also, here, the optical fiber and the electric wire are connected by using the electric connection terminal and the joint arm, so that the attachment and the holding to the case are performed easily.

[0005]

In the case of the above-described photoelectric composite connector, since the optical fiber for an optical signal and the electric wire for an electric signal are used separately as hybrids, the optical signal and the electric signal are not used. In the case of a structure that allows simultaneous transmission by multiple systems, a large case is required, and it is difficult to reduce the overall size, which is an indispensable demand from the recent field of electronic and communication equipment in which such connectors are mounted. Not only will it become a problem, but if it is a method of connecting optical fibers and electric wires using electrical connection terminals and joining arms,
There is a problem in that the number of parts is increased, and management and connection work of the cables are troublesome, and cable termination processing becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. The technical problems of the present invention are that an optical signal and an electric signal can be simultaneously transmitted by multiple systems, and the termination of the cable is easy. An object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectric composite connector having a compact and simple structure.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a conductive type optical fiber capable of simultaneously transmitting an optical signal and an electric signal by providing a conductor on the surface of a fiber strand forming an optical fiber core is provided. An optical connection portion for making an optical connection and an electrical connection portion for making an electrical connection are mounted in the same housing, and the optical connection portion is mounted in a rear portion in the housing, and In the photoelectric composite connector having a structure in which the part is pushed in from the front to the back, the housing includes an electric terminal including an electric contact part that is in contact with the surface of the conductive type optical fiber, and the electric connection part includes: A photoelectric composite having a fiber holding portion for holding an intermediate portion of a conductive type optical fiber, and an elastic pressing piece for pressing and deforming the conductive type optical fiber while deforming itself during press-fitting to make contact with an electrical contact portion. Connector can be obtained.

According to the present invention, in the above-described photoelectric composite connector, the housing includes a light-receiving / light-emitting element that receives and emits an optical signal by being optically coupled by contact with an optical connection portion. The photoelectric composite connector including the conversion module and the photoelectric conversion module terminal connected to the photoelectric conversion module is obtained.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, in the above-described photoelectric composite connector, the elastic pressing piece slides against a wall portion in the housing at the time of press-fitting and deforms itself while pressing and deforming the conductive type optical fiber. Thus, the photoelectric composite type connector having the shape of a leaf spring projection is obtained.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, in the above-described photoelectric composite connector, the elastic pressing piece collides with the symmetrical counterpart component implanted on the wall in the housing during the push-in mounting, and the elastic pressing piece has a convex shape. Thus, a photoelectric composite connector is obtained, which is a plate-shaped piece formed by pressing and deforming the conductive type optical fiber while deforming itself, and having a tip end processed and abutted with the counterpart component.

Further, according to the present invention, in any of the above-described photoelectric composite type connectors, a plurality of conductive optical fibers are connected to the optical connection portion and held by the fiber holding portion of the electrical connection portion. A plurality of non-conductive comb-shaped protruding pieces for electrically isolating adjacent ones of the conductive type optical fibers are provided in a portion between the optical connection portion and the electrical connection portion in the housing. Are arranged side by side, and furthermore, a photoelectric composite connector is provided in which the fiber holding portion of the electrical connection portion is provided with a plurality of slits for receiving the ends of the plurality of comb-shaped projecting pieces at the time of push-fitting.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The photoelectric composite connector of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of a photoelectric composite connector according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1B relates to a sectional side view of the housing 1 taken along one plane, and FIG. 2B relates to a sectional view of a conductive type optical fiber 7 used for connection.

This photoelectric composite type connector has a plurality of conductive optical fibers capable of simultaneously transmitting an optical signal and an electric signal in a multi-system by providing a conductor 7b on the surface of a fiber strand 7a constituting an optical fiber core. It handles the fiber 7, and is formed by mounting an optical connection portion 2 for making an optical connection to the conductive type optical fiber 7 and an electric connection portion 3 for making an electrical connection in the same housing 1 by separate operations. At the same time, the optical connection unit 2 is initially mounted in the interior of the housing 1 and then the electrical connection unit 3 is pushed into the interior from the front and mounted.

The housing 1 includes a plurality of light-receiving / light-emitting elements for receiving and emitting light signals by optically coupling with a plurality of conductive-type optical fibers 7 in contact with an optical connection portion 2 which is optically connected. In addition to the photoelectric conversion module 1a for performing the photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion module 1a, a plurality of terminals 6 for the photoelectric conversion module connected to the photoelectric conversion module 1a, A plurality of electric terminals 5 including an electric contact portion 5a to be brought into contact with the surface. The housing 1 and the ends of the electric terminals 5 and the terminals 6 for the photoelectric conversion modules exposed to the outside are provided on a printed circuit board 4 and are pulled out from an electronic circuit on the printed circuit board 4 and are located at predetermined locations. Is fixedly connected to the connection pattern arranged in the first position.

As a result, the housing 1 is
A guide rail 2a is provided so as to be movable along grooves (not shown) provided on both sides of the inside,
The guide rails 3 are also movable along grooves (not shown) provided on the upper and lower sides of the housing 1.
b, and a lock and guide rail 3c that is locked at a predetermined position during movement. Specifically,
The optical connection portion 2 is provided with a guide rail 2 a in one step on both side surfaces in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction in the housing 1, whereas the electrical connection portion 3 is compared with the optical connection portion 2. Because of the large height, the lock / guide rail 3c is provided on the lower side and the guide rail 3b is provided on the lower side on both sides of the housing 1 in the direction perpendicular to the mounting direction.

The electrical connection section 3 is made of a conductive type optical fiber 7.
And a resilient pressing piece for pressing and deforming the conductive type optical fiber 7 to make contact with the electrical contact portion 5a while deforming itself during press-fitting, that is, a tapered portion in the housing 1. It has an L-shaped leaf spring projection 8 which presses and deforms the conductive type optical fiber 7 while sliding and deforming itself while being processed as a wall 1b.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway view showing the arrangement of the comb-shaped projections 9 provided between the optical connection portion 2 and the electrical connection portion 3 in the housing 1 provided in the photoelectric composite connector. FIG.

Here, a plurality of conductive type optical fibers 7 are connected to the optical connection portion 2 and held by the fiber holding portion 3a of the electrical connection portion 3, and are further connected to the optical connection portion 2 and the electrical connection portion in the housing 1. A state in which a plurality of non-conductive comb-shaped projecting pieces 9 for electrically isolating adjacent ones of the conductive type optical fibers 7 are arranged and disposed in a portion between the portions 3 is shown. ing.

FIG. 3 is a side view from one direction showing a detailed configuration of the electric connection portion 3 provided in the photoelectric composite connector.

In this case, the fiber holding portion 3a of the electrical connection portion 3 has a two-tiered structure, and the above-described guide rail 3b and lock / guide rail 3c are provided in a lower portion occupying most of the height. In addition, a V-shaped groove 3d for facilitating the mounting of each conductive type optical fiber 7 along the direction of gravity is provided at the bottom of the lower half of the mounting groove for each conductive type optical fiber 7, and the mounting grooves are connected to each other. A lower half forming a plurality of slits 3e for receiving an end of each of the comb-shaped protrusion pieces 9 described above is provided between the upper half and an upper half of a mounting groove for each conductive type optical fiber 7; This shows that the upper half of the slit 3e is provided.

In the case of the photoelectric composite connector having such a configuration, a plurality of conductive optical fibers 7 capable of simultaneously transmitting an optical signal and an electric signal in multiple systems are targeted, and each conductive optical fiber 7 is connected to an optical connection section. After optically connecting to the optical connection portion 2, the optical connection portion 2 is initially mounted in the housing 1 along the groove for the guide rail 2 a in the housing 1.
Each of the conductive type optical fibers 7 is held by the fiber holding portion 3a having a two-stage structure of upper and lower sides, and then the guide rail 3 in the housing 1 is
By pressing the electrical connection portion 3 into the grooves for the b and the lock and guide rail 3c, the leaf spring projections 8 of the electrical connection portion 3 are deformed by themselves, so that each conductive type optical fiber 7 is pressed and deformed, and each conductive type optical fiber 7 is pressed and deformed. The optical fiber 7 works so as to contact the surface of the optical fiber 7 with the electric contact portion 5a of each electric terminal 5, so that an optical signal and an electric signal can be simultaneously transmitted in multiple systems, and a compact and simple structure that can easily terminate the cable. Becomes Further, a comb-shaped projection 9 is provided between adjacent ones of the respective conductive type optical fibers 7, and when the electrical connection section 3 is pushed and mounted, each of the slits 3 provided in the fiber holding section 3 a is provided.
Since e receives the end of each comb-shaped protruding piece 9, an electrical short circuit due to the deformed contact between the conductive type optical fibers 7 is prevented, and safety is ensured.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the housing 1 cut along one plane to explain the operation of pushing and mounting the electrical connection portion provided in the photoelectric composite connector step by step. (A) relates to the state before pushing, FIG. (B) relates to the state during pushing, and FIG. (C) relates to the state where pushing is completed.

In the case of this photoelectric composite type connector, first, FIG.
Referring to (a), in the state before pushing, the optical connection unit 2
Are brought into contact with the photoelectric conversion module 1a by initial mounting and are optically coupled to each other, so that an optical signal can be transmitted. However, the electrical connection part 3 is partially located on the near side in the housing 1. The tip of the leaf spring projection 8 is in the vicinity of the tapered portion 1b of the housing 1 and is not deformed itself, and the surface of the conductive type optical fiber 7 and the electrical contact portion 5a of the electrical terminal 5 are in a non-contact state. As a result, no electrical signal is transmitted.

Next, referring to FIG. 4B, in the state of being pushed, as the electric connection portion 3 is pushed from the near side to the far side inside the housing 1, the tip of the leaf spring projection 8 becomes the housing 1. After contacting with the tapered portion 1b, it deforms itself and rides on the tapered portion 1b in the tall direction, and eventually contacts the surface of the conductive type optical fiber 7 and deforms the conductive type optical fiber 7, but in this state, the conductive type optical fiber 7 is deformed. Although the optical fiber 7 is slightly deformed and approaches the electric contact portion 5a of the electric terminal 5,
Since the surface of the conductive type optical fiber 7 and the electric contact portion 5a of the electric terminal 5 are still in a non-contact state, no electric signal is transmitted.

Further, referring to FIG. 4 (c), when the pushing is completed, the electrical connection portion 3 is pushed into the housing 1 to a position aligned with the front side surface of the housing 1, and in this state, the leaf spring projection 8 Since the tip promotes the deformation of the conductive type optical fiber 7 and eventually brings the surface of the conductive type optical fiber 7 into contact with the electric contact portion 5a of the electric terminal 5, an electric signal is transmitted.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a basic configuration of a photoelectric composite connector according to another embodiment in which a part of the photoelectric composite connector of the above-described embodiment is partially modified, and a state before pushing an electric connection portion thereof. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the housing 1 ′ cut away in one plane. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the housing 1 'cut away in one plane to explain a state where the electrical connection portion of the photoelectric composite connector according to another embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is completely pushed. is there.

In the case of this photoelectric composite type connector, the conductive type optical fiber 7 is pressed and deformed while being deformed itself at the time of press-fitting at the electric connection portion 3 ', thereby making contact with the electric contact portion 5a. The elastic pressing piece that makes contact is deformed, and a plate-shaped piece 10 of a counterpart component having a symmetrical shape is implanted on a wall portion inside the housing 1 ′ at the time of press-fitting.
The conductive type optical fiber 7 deforms itself while colliding with
Is pressed and deformed, and the plate-like piece 11 is formed by tapering and abutting the tip between the plate-like piece 10 of the mating part and the tapered portion. The optical connection portion 2 'has a guide rail 2a' with an increased height, and the electrical connection portion 3 'has the same height as the optical connection portion 2'. The difference is that the height is smaller than that of the electric connection portion 3 and the structure has only the lock and guide rail 3c '.

In the case of this photoelectric composite type connector, first, FIG.
In the state before pushing, the optical connection portion 2 ′ is brought into contact with the photoelectric conversion module 1 a by initial mounting and optically coupled, so that an optical signal can be transmitted. A portion of the portion 3 ′ protrudes toward the near side in the housing 1 ′, and a plate-like piece 11 formed by tapering and abutting each other with a plate-like piece 10 of a mating part. Is not deformed, and the electrical signal is not transmitted because the surface of the conductive type optical fiber 7 and the electrical contact portion 5a of the electrical terminal 5 are in a non-contact state.

However, referring to FIG. 6, when the pushing is completed, the electrical connecting portion 3 'is pushed into the housing 1' to a position aligned with the side surface on the front side of the housing 1 ', so that the tips are tapered. The processed and abutted plate-shaped piece 11 comes into contact with the plate-shaped piece 10 of the mating component, and both deform themselves, and the abutting portion rises in the tall dimension direction and comes into contact with the conductive type optical fiber 7. Therefore, an electric signal is transmitted in order to promote the deformation and eventually bring the surface of the conductive type optical fiber 7 into contact with the electric contact portion 5 a of the electric terminal 5.

Therefore, in the case of this photoelectric composite type connector as well, the optical signal and the electric signal can be simultaneously transmitted in multiple systems, and the termination of the cable is easy, as in the first embodiment. The structure is small and simpler than that of the embodiment.

In the case of the photoelectric composite connector of each embodiment described above, the housings 1 and 1 'are
a, the electric terminals 5 and the photoelectric conversion module terminals 6, which are arranged on the printed circuit board 4 and described as a configuration for board mounting. It is also possible to configure a relay type that projects outward without being connected and fixed above, and that fits with a mating component without requiring the printed circuit board 4.

[0033]

As described above, according to the photoelectric composite connector of the present invention, the conductor is provided on the surface of the fiber so that the optical signal and the electric signal can be transmitted simultaneously in multiple systems. For each of the multiple conductive type optical fibers, the respective conductive type optical fibers are optically connected to the optical connection part, and initially mounted in the housing. By holding the optical fiber and pressing the electrical connection part into the housing, the elastic pressing piece plate of the electrical connection part deforms itself while pressing and deforming each conductive-type optical fiber, thereby deforming each conductive-type optical fiber surface. Since it works so as to make contact with the electric contact portion of the electric terminal, an optical signal and an electric signal can be simultaneously transmitted in multiple systems, and a compact and simple structure in which the termination processing of the cable is easy is realized. Further, in the case of this photoelectric composite connector, a plurality of non-conductive members for isolating between adjacent ones of the conductive type optical fibers are provided in a portion between the optical connection portion and the electrical connection portion in the housing. By arranging a plurality of comb-shaped projecting pieces arranged side by side, and by providing a plurality of slits for receiving the ends of each comb-shaped projecting piece at the time of pushing and attaching to the fiber holding section of the electrical connection section, Since electrical short-circuiting due to deformation contact between the conductive type optical fibers is prevented when the electrical connection portion is pushed in, safety and reliability in use can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a basic configuration of a photoelectric composite connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a side sectional view in which a housing is cut in one plane direction, and FIG. It relates to a cross-sectional view of a conductive type optical fiber provided.

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partially cut away, showing a state of arrangement of comb-shaped protrusions provided between an optical connection portion and an electrical connection portion in a housing provided in the photoelectric composite connector shown in FIG. is there.

FIG. 3 is a side view from one direction showing a detailed configuration of an electric connection portion provided in the photoelectric composite connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side cross-sectional views of the housing, taken along one plane, for explaining a step-by-step operation of press-fitting an electrical connection portion provided in the photoelectric composite connector shown in FIG. 1; Is related to the state before pushing, (b)
(C) relates to the state in which the pressing is completed, and (c) relates to the state in which the pressing is completed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a photoelectric composite connector according to another embodiment in which a part of the photoelectric composite connector shown in FIG. FIG.

6 is a side cross-sectional view of the housing shown in FIG. 5, in which a housing is cut away in one plane to explain a state where the electrical connection portion of the photoelectric composite connector is completely pressed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1 'Housing 1a Photoelectric conversion module 1b Data part 2, 2' Optical connection part 2a, 2a 'Guide rail 3, 3' Electric connection part 3a Fiber holding part 3b Guide rail 3c, 3c 'Lock and guide rail 3d V-shaped Groove 3e slit 4 printed circuit board 5 electric terminal 5a electric contact 6 terminal for photoelectric conversion module 7 conductive type optical fiber 7a fiber strand 7b conductor 8 leaf spring projection 9 comb-shaped projection piece 10, 11 plate-shaped piece

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI H01R 13/46 H01R 13/46 D Examiner Masato Matsunawa (56) References JP-A-6-342115 (JP, A) JP-A Heisei JP-A-9-145969 (JP, A) JP-A-9-33755 (JP, A) JP-A-3-77390 (JP, U) JP-A-5-62972 (JP, A) U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 58-38983 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/66 G02B 6/24 G02B 6/40 G02B 6/42 H01R 13/15 H01R 13/46

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical connection part for optically connecting a conductive type optical fiber capable of simultaneously transmitting an optical signal and an electric signal by applying a conductor to the surface of a fiber strand forming an optical fiber core wire. And an electrical connection portion for making an electrical connection are mounted in the same housing, and the optical connection portion is mounted in the back portion in the housing, and the electrical connection portion is pushed in from the near side to the back portion and mounted. In the photoelectric composite connector having the structure described above, the housing includes an electrical terminal including an electrical contact portion that is in contact with the surface of the conductive type optical fiber, and the electrical connecting portion is provided in the middle of the conductive type optical fiber. A fiber holding portion that holds the portion, and an elastic pressing piece that presses and deforms the conductive-type optical fiber while deforming itself at the time of press-fitting and makes contact with the electrical contact portion. Photoelectric composite connector. 2. The photoelectric composite connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a light receiving / light emitting element that receives and emits the optical signal by being optically coupled by contact with the optical connection part. A photoelectric composite connector comprising: a photoelectric conversion module; and a photoelectric conversion module terminal connected to the photoelectric conversion module. 3. The photoelectric composite connector according to claim 1, wherein said elastic pressing piece slides against a wall portion of said housing during press-fitting to deform said conductive type optical fiber while deforming itself. A photoelectric composite connector characterized by having a U-shaped leaf spring projection. 4. The photoelectric composite connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic pressing piece collides with a symmetrical mating component implanted on a wall portion in the housing during the push-in mounting, and the elastic pressing piece has a convex shape. A photoelectric composite type, wherein the conductive type optical fiber is pressed and deformed while being deformed itself, and is a plate-shaped piece formed by tapering and abutting the tips of the conductive type optical fiber with the counterpart component. connector. 5. The photoelectric composite connector according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the conductive type optical fibers are connected to the optical connection portion and are held by the fiber holding portion of the electrical connection portion. In the portion between the optical connection portion and the electrical connection portion in the housing is mounted,
A plurality of non-conductive comb-shaped projecting pieces for electrically isolating adjacent ones of the conductive type optical fibers are arranged side by side, and further, the fiber holding part of the electrical connection part is provided on the fiber holding part. A photoelectric composite connector, wherein a plurality of slits are provided for receiving end portions of the plurality of comb-shaped projection pieces during push-fitting.