# US 12,009,117 B2 · Hybrid fiber optic and electrical connector

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- Number: US 12,009,117 B2
- Document ID: US12009117B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/817,037
- Filed: 2022-08-03
- Published: 2023-11-16
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2022-05-16
- Assignees: Panduit Corp.
- Applicants: Panduit Corp.
- Inventors: Yu Huang; Jose M. Castro; Bulent Kose
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009117B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/3817: {containing optical and electrical conductors (cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence)}
- H01B 11/22: Cables including at least one electrical conductor together with optical fibres
- G02B 6/381: {of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres}
- G02B 6/3825: {with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs}
- H01R 13/6691: {with built-in signalling means (H01R13/717 takes precedence)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A system for the transmission of optical and electrical signals has two optical connectors wherein each of the connectors have a metal ferrule electrically connected to a conductor. The system also has an adapter wherein having the connectors optically connected to each other via the adapter also electrically connects the conductor of optical connectors via the metal ferrules of the first and second optical connectors. Alternatively, a system can have first and second optical connectors wherein each of the connectors have an outer housing with a conductive interior surface. This system also has an adapter with at least one metal split sleeve wherein having the connectors optically connected to each other via the adapter also electrically connects optical connectors via the conductive interior surface of the outer housing of each optical connector contacting the at least one metal split sleeve.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for the transmission of optical and electrical signals comprising:
first and second LC optical connectors arranged as LC duplex connectors wherein each of the connectors have a metal ferrule electrically connected to a conductor via a metal spring and at least one metal interior part; and
an adapter wherein having the first and second connectors optically connected to each other via the adapter also electrically connects the conductor of the first optical connector to the second optical connector via the metal ferrules of the first and second optical connectors.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the adapter has at least one ceramic split sleeve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the adapter has at least one metal split sleeve.

### Claim 4

A system for the transmission of optical and electrical signals comprising:
first and second LC optical connectors arranged as LC duplex connectors wherein each of the connectors have an outer housing with a conductive interior surface, the conductive interior surface being electrically connected to a conductor via a metal spring and at least one interior metal interior part; and
an adapter with at least one metal split sleeve wherein having the first and second connectors optically connected to each other via the adapter also electrically connects the conductor of the first optical connector to the second optical connector via the conductive interior surface of the outer housing of each optical connector contacting the at least one metal split sleeve.