US 5,345,520 AGranted

Electrical connector with an optical fiber connection detector

OwnerMark E. Grileinventor

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Abstract

Optical fibers are embedded within the center portions of the male and the female elements of the connector. The tail ends of the embedded optical fibers exit the male and female elements on corresponding side portions thereof. The one ends of the optical fibers are disposed such that when the male and female elements are mated to establish electrical contact, the other ends of the optical fibers embedded within each element become properly aligned and are brought into contact thereby providing a path for a light signal to pass between them. A light source applied to one of the tail ends of the optical fibers exiting either of the electrically connected elements will then pass to the tail end of the optical fiber exiting the other element, thereby evidencing that the electrical connection between the elements is good.

Claims3

Dependent claims

An electrical connector utilizing an optical fiber to detect a fitted electrical contact comprising:

a male connector element having a first end, a second end, and a male electrical conduit disposed therebetween;
a female connector element having a first end, a second end, and a female electrical conduit disposed therebetween;
receptors at the first ends of said male and female connector elements in electrical contact with said male and female electrical conduits
a male member at the second end of said male connector element in electrical communication with said male electrical conduit and a female member at the second end of said female connector element in electrical communication with said female electrical conduit, said male and female members being correspondingly sized to be matingly received together and defining a fitted electrical contact between said male and female members when the distal most end portion of the male member is abutted against the proximal most end portion of the female member;
a first optical fiber embedded within said male connector element having a first end that exits said male connector element between the first and second ends thereof and a second end that exits said male member at its distal most end portion, and a second optical fiber embedded within said female connector element having a first end that exits said female connector element between the first and second ends thereof and a second end that exits said female member at its proximal most end portion, whereby the second ends of said first and second optical fibers are aligned and abutted together when said male and female members are in fitted electrical contact and a light signal will pass between the second ends of said first and second optical fibers.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/098,193Filed 28 Jul 1993
Granted: 6 Sep 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H01R 13/641
Means for preventing incorrect coupling: by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
G02B 6/3817
Of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres: containing optical and electrical conductors
G02B 6/3895
Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs: identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating…
H01R
Electrically-conductive connections

Family

No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.

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