Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Supporting plural – independent coupling parts
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-29
2004-08-17
Nguyen, Truc (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Supporting plural, independent coupling parts
C439S291000, C439S109000, C439S924100, C439S607070, C439S541500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06776652
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a connector device and a connector which effect both optical connection and electrical connection.
2. Background Art
In some form of data communication, an optical communication line, using an optical fiber, and an electrical line (such as an electrical communication line or a power supply line), using wires, are laid in a juxtaposed manner. In this case, if the optical communication line and the electrical line are installed in a bundled manner, this installing operation can be carried out easily. In the connection of the optical communication line and electrical line to predetermined equipments or other lines, if an optical connector portion
1020
and an electrical connector portion
1040
are combined together to provide a single connector
1000
as shown in
FIG. 9
, the number of the component parts and the time and labor, required for the connecting operation, can be reduced as compared with the case where their connection portions are connected respectively to separate connectors, and therefore this is desirable.
In the connector shown in
FIG. 9
, the optical connector portion
1020
is provided at one side portion (right side portion in the drawing sheet) of the connector
1000
while the electrical connector portion
1040
is provided at the other side portion (left side portion in the drawing sheet) of the connector
1000
. Therefore, if the electrical connector portion
1040
has many female terminals, a large force is required for fittingly connecting an electrical connector portion of a mating connector to the electrical connector portion
1040
and for withdrawing the former from the latter. In this case, if the force, required for fittingly connecting and withdrawing the electrical connector portion of the mating connector relative to the electrical connector portion
1040
, is different from the force required for fittingly connecting and withdrawing an optical connector portion of the mating connector relative to the optical connector portion
1020
, the one side portion and the other side portion of the connector
1000
are not balanced with each other with respect to the force for fittingly connecting and withdrawing the mating connector relative to the connector
1000
. In this case, when fittingly connecting and withdrawing the mating connector relative to the connector
1000
, the mating connector is liable to be brought into an inclined posture relative to the connector
1000
, so that an undue load is exerted on ferrules of the optical connector portion
1020
and the terminals of the electrical connector portion
1040
, and therefore there is a fear that these portions are deformed or damaged.
Moreover, when the electrical signal and power terminals and the optical element are thus incorporated in the single connector, there is a fear that the electrical signal and power terminals are adversely affected by noises from the optical element while the optical element is adversely affected by noises from the electrical signal and power terminals, since these terminals are disposed in proximity to the optical element.
One technique of incorporating an electrical connector portion and an optical connector portion in a single connector is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3067249.
In this connector, an optical element is contained in an electrically-conductive holder, and this holder intercepts electromagnetic noises which would otherwise act between electrical signal and power terminals and the optical element. In the above connector, a certain degree of an electromagnetic noise-reflecting and absorbing effect can be expected, but the electrically-conductive holder is not connected to the ground, and therefore when the electromagnetic noises resonate, the re-radiation of the noises is liable to occur, and besides, the electric potential is unstable, so that it is difficult to prevent the field coupling. Because of these factors, the sufficient noise-suppressing effect cannot be obtained.
In the case where a plurality of optical elements are incorporated in the connector, these optical elements need to be contained in electrically-conductive holders, respectively, so that the construction becomes complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a connector device and a connector, in which one connector can be fittingly connected and withdrawn relative to the other connector in a proper posture.
Another object of this invention is to provide a connector capable of achieving a sufficient noise-suppressing effect. Another object of the invention is to provide a connector which can achieves the above primary object, and is simple in construction.
The above problem has been solved by a connector device of an aspect of the invention, which comprises a first connector including a first connector housing incorporating a first optical coupling connector portion, having at least one ferrule for holding an end portion of an optical fiber, and a plurality of first electrical connection terminal portions; and a second connector including a second connector housing incorporating a second optical coupling connector portion, having at least one ferrule receiving portion corresponding to the ferrule so as to receive the ferrule in connected relation thereto, and second electrical connection terminal portions corresponding respectively to the first electrical connection terminal portions so as to be connected respectively to the first electrical connection terminal portions; wherein in the first connector, the first electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner around the first optical coupling connector portion; and wherein in the second connector, the second electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner around the second optical coupling connector portion in corresponding relation to the first electrical connection terminal portions.
According to another aspect of the invention, preferably, one of the first and second connection terminal portions is a male connection terminal while the other is a female connection terminal.
According to another aspect of the invention, the first connector housing has a shape flattened in a direction of a width thereof, and the first optical coupling connector portion is provided at a widthwise central portion of the first connector housing, and the first electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner at widthwise opposite side portions of the first connector housing; and the second connector housing has a shape flattened in a direction of a width thereof in corresponding relation to the first connector housing, and the second optical coupling connector portion is provided at a widthwise central portion of the second connector housing in corresponding relation to the first optical coupling connector portion, and the second electrical connection terminal portions are provided in a distributed manner at widthwise opposite side portions of the second connector housing in corresponding relation to the first electrical connection terminal portions.
According to another aspect of the invention, the ferrule, the ferrule receiving portion, the first connection terminal portions and the second connection terminal portions are arranged such that in the connection of the first and second connectors, a position where the ferrule begins to be inserted into the ferrule receiving portion is spaced in a direction of connection of the first and second connectors from a position where each of the first connection terminal portions begins to be inserted into the corresponding second connection terminal portion.
According to another aspect of the invention, the ferrule, the ferrule receiving portion, the first connection terminal portions and the second connection terminal portions are arranged such that in the connection of the first and second connectors, the ferrule begins to be inserted into the ferrule receiving portion afte
Asada Kazuhiro
Imazu Hitoshi
Nakura Yuji
Autonetworks Technologies Ltd.
Nguyen Truc
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