Active optical connector using audio port

A plug for insertion into a jack, the plug comprising:

• (a) a body having a longitudinally extending central through-bore;
• (b) a conductor mounted on the body and configured to make contact with a corresponding terminal provided in the jack when the plug is fully inserted therein;
• and
• (c) first and second optical fibers extending through the central through-bore for receiving and emitting optical signals respectively therethrough, and having first and second front ends respectively held in a fiber ferrule for insertion into a receptacle formed on an optical transceiver module of the jack when the plug is fully inserted into the jack.

A jack for the insertion of a plug therein, the jack comprising:

• (a) a housing having a front opening through which the plug is insertable;
• (b) a metal contact mounted in the housing and configured to make contact with a corresponding conductor on the plug when the plug is fully inserted into the jack;
• (c) an optical transceiver module mounted at a rear open end of the housing, the optical transceiver module comprising a receptacle for receiving therein a fiber ferrule that holds first and second front ends of first and second optical fibers received in a central through-hole of the plug;
• (d) a light source provided on the optical transceiver module for emitting light towards the first front end of the first optical fiber;
• (e) a photo-detector provided on the optical transceiver module for receiving light from the second front end of the second optical fiber;
• and
• (f) a controller chip connected to the light source and the photo-detector, and comprising a converting circuit configured to convert electrical signals into optical signal and optical signals into electrical signals.