Electro-optical connectors

An electro-optical connector, comprising:

• an optical ferrule to optically engage with a complementary optical ferrule on a complementary electro-optical connector;
• a first conductive guide post disposed adjacent to the optical ferrule to electrically engage with a first guide pocket of the complementary electro-optical connector;
• and
• a second guide pocket disposed on an opposite side of the optical ferrule from the first conductive guide post to electrically engage with a second conductive guide post of the complementary electro-optical connector;
• wherein the first and second conductive guide posts are to align the optical ferrule for engagement with the complementary optical ferrule when the guide posts are engaged with the respective guide pockets,
• wherein the first and second conductive guide posts are to conduct an electrical signal or electrical power from the electro-optical connector to the complementary electro-optical connector,
• wherein each of the first and second conductive guide posts are to each further include a first and second conductive surface,
• wherein the first and second conductive surfaces are electrically isolated from each other,
• wherein the first and second conductive surfaces of the first conductive guide post are each electrically engaged with a separate electrical contact within the electro-optical connector, and
• wherein the second guide pocket includes a first and second electrical contact to separately electrically engage with the first and second conductive surfaces of the second conductive guide post, such that the first conductive surface of the second conductive guide post is to conduct electrical power and the second conductive surface of the second conductive guide post is to conduct a separate electrical signal from the electro-optical connector to the complementary electro-optical connector.

An electro-optical connector system, comprising:

• a first electro-optical connector engaged with a first electrical device, including:
• a first optical ferrule;
• and
• a first and second conductive alignment feature;
• wherein the first and second conductive alignment features are electrically engaged with the first electrical device;
• and
• a second electro-optical connector engaged with a second electrical device, including:
• a second optical ferrule that is complementary to the first optical ferrule, such that the first and second optical ferrules can optically and mechanically engage with one another;
• and
• a first and second conductive alignment feature to mechanically and electrically engage with the first and second conductive alignment features of the first electro-optical connector, respectively
• wherein the first and second optical ferrules are aligned for optical and mechanical engagement when the first and second conductive alignment features of the first electro-optical connector are mechanically engaged with the first and second conductive alignment features of the second electro-optical connector,
• wherein the first conductive alignment feature of the first electro-optical connector is a conductive guide post and the first conductive alignment feature of the second electro-optical connector is a guide pocket to receive the guide post of the first electro-optical connector, and wherein the second conductive alignment feature of the second electro-optical connector is a conductive guide post and the second conductive alignment feature of the first electro-optical connector is a guide pocket to receive the guide post of the second electro-optical connector, and
• wherein each of the conductive guide posts includes a first and second conductive surface, wherein the first conductive surfaces of the conductive guide posts are to conduct electrical power to and from the first electrical device to and from the second electrical device, and wherein the second conductive surfaces of the conductive guide posts are to conduct a separate electrical signal to and from the first electrical device to and from the second electrical device.