US 4,844,582 A · Hybrid electro-optical connectors

Abstract

A pair of hybrid electro-optical connectors which allow for the grouping of a mixture of electrical and optical connections in a versatile housing where clusters of terminal-holding channels are arranged in a beehive configuration. Automatic alignment of the terminals is achieved by means of magnets of opposite polarity occupying some of these channels. The connectors are particularly adapted to underwater applications or to any other severe environment and hard-to-reach locations where manipulation is limited due to the use of diving suits or robotics. The frustro-conical configuration of sections of the channels and the terminals provides for the use of the connectors as part of bulkheads between two areas with very high differential pressure. The frustro-conical configuration prevents the movement of terminals within the channel toward the low pressure area. The terminal configurations provide for wiping action of mating electrical terminals and precise juxtaposition of lenses used in the optical connections.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A pair of mating connectors for transferring electrical signals from at least a first electrical wire to a second electrical wire and for transferring optical signals from at least one fiber-optic cable to another optical device which comprises:

each of said connectors having a mating interface shaped and dimensioned to intimately contact the mating interface of the other connector;
means, for transferring said electrical signals, comprising a pair of electrical terminals each of said terminals being connected to one of said wires and being shaped and dimensioned to axially slide against the other terminal when said mating interfaces are brought together;
means, for transferring said optical signals, comprising at least one optical terminal in optical alignment with said cable and with said other optical device when said mating interfaces are brought together;
a plurality of channels in each of said connectors opening into said interface, each of said channels having a frustro-conical area tapering toward said mating interface, wherein each of said terminals occupies one of said channels;
each of said terminals having a corresponding frustro-conical section to intimately rest within said channel frustro-conical area;
and
means, for automatically aligning said electrical terminals and said optical terminal when said mating interfaces are brought together.

4 more elements

each of said connectors having a mating interface shaped and dimensioned to intimately contact the mating interface of the other connector;
means, for transferring said electrical signals, comprising a pair of electrical terminals each of said terminals being connected to one of said wires and being shaped and dimensioned to axially slide against the other terminal when said mating interfaces are brought together;
means, for transferring said optical signals, comprising at least one optical terminal in optical alignment with said cable and with said other optical device when said mating interfaces are brought together;
means, for automatically aligning said electrical terminals and said optical terminal when said mating interfaces are brought together;
wherein a first of said connectors has a plurality of similar and parallel channels opening into the interface of said connector;
the other connector has a plurality of similar channels axially lined with the channels of said first connector when the two interfaces are brought together;
each of said terminals occupies one of said channels;
wherein said means for automatically aligning comprise at least one pair of magnets, one of said magnets being housing in one of the channels of said first connector and the other magnet being housed in one channel of the other connector;
wherein said magnets are positioned in said channels to place ends of opposite polarity in the respective interfaces of said connectors;
wherein a first of said electrical terminals is shaped to extend beyond the interface of said first connector and to engage the other electrical terminal within the other connector when said interfaces are brought together;
and
wherein the magnet in said first connector is movable within a channel and is resiliently biased to extend beyond the interface of the first connector to a distance commensurate with the length of extension of said first electrical terminal.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hybrid electro-optical connectors

Life of this patent

Hybrid electro-optical connectors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10