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US 9,804,338 B2Granted
Plug connector to couple a hybrid cable to a receptacle
AssigneeCCS Technology, Inc.
InventorsEric Stephan ten Have, Michael Wimmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plug connector for a hybrid cable comprises a fiber and wire holder to hold at least one optical fiber and at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable. The plug connector comprises at least one optical device being configured such that a light beam received from the at least one optical fiber at a first side of the at least one optical device is collimated and coupled out at the second side of the at least one optical device. The plug connector comprises an electrical contact pin to be coupled to the at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable. The electrical contact pin has a structure being configured to be engaged in a complimentary receptacle to mechanically fix the plug connector to the receptacle.
Claims16
A plug connector to couple a hybrid cable to a receptacle, comprising:
- a fiber and wire holder to hold at least one optical fiber and at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable;
- at least one optical device to change a diameter of a light beam between a first side of the at least one optical device to be coupled to the at least one optical fiber and a second side of the at least one optical device such that the light beam received from the at least one optical fiber at the first side of the at least one optical device is collimated and coupled out at the second side of the at least one optical device, wherein the at least one optical device is arranged in the fiber and wire holder;
- and
- an electrical contact pin to be electrically coupled to the at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable, the electrical contact pin having a first portion being arranged in the fiber and wire holder and a second portion protruding out of the fiber and wire holder, wherein the second portion of the electrical contact pin has a recess being configured to be engaged in a clamp of the receptacle to mechanically fix the plug connector to the receptacle;
- a housing to encapsulate the fiber and wire holder, the housing comprises an opening, wherein the fiber and wire holder comprises a front part protruding out of the opening of the housing;
- wherein the front part of the fiber and wire holder comprises an opening, wherein the electrical contact pin protrudes out of the opening of the front part of the fiber and wire holder;
- wherein the front part of the fiber and wire holder comprises a light-transmissive portion to couple light in/out of the plug connector;
- wherein the at least one optical device is fixed to the light-transmissive portion of the fiber and wire holder;
- wherein the front part of the fiber and wire holder comprises an aligning portion being formed with a chamfered surface to align the plug connector to the receptacle in a state in which the plug connector is coupled to the receptacle;
- and
- wherein the chamfered surface of the aligning portion of the fiber and wire holder tapers from the opening of the housing to the light-transmissive portion of the fiber and wire holder.
8 more elements
A receptacle to receive a plug connector to couple a hybrid cable to the receptacle, comprising:
- an insulated body comprising a hollow portion being configured to receive an electrical contact pin of the plug connector in a state in which the plug connector is coupled to the receptacle, wherein the insulated body comprises a light-transmissive portion;
- at least one optical device to change a diameter of a light beam coupled in the optical device, wherein the at least one optical device is arranged in the receptacle such that the light beam coupled out of the plug connector is coupled in the at least one optical device in the state in which the plug connector is coupled to the receptacle;
- wherein the at least one optical device is configured to change a collimated light beam coupled out of the plug connector and received at a first side of the at least one optical device to a focused light beam at a second side of the at least one optical device;
- a front panel comprising a channel having an outer opening to receive the plug connector and an inner opening, wherein the insulated body is arranged such that the light-transmissive portion of the insulated body is located at the inner opening of the channel of the front panel and the channel of the front panel has a chamfered surface tapering from the outer opening of the channel to the inner opening to align the plug connector to the receptacle such that light coupled out of the plug connector is optically coupled in the light-transmissive portion of the insulated body in the state in which the plug connector is coupled to the receptacle;
- and
- an engagement means to be engaged in a recess of the electrical contact pin of the plug connector to mechanically fix the plug connector to the receptacle.
3 more elements
A plug connector to couple a hybrid cable to a receptacle, comprising:
- a fiber and wire holder to hold at least one optical fiber and at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable;
- at least one optical device to change a diameter of a light beam between a first side of the at least one optical device to be coupled to the at least one optical fiber and a second side of the at least one optical device such that the light beam received from the at least one optical fiber at the first side of the at least one optical device is collimated and coupled out at the second side of the at least one optical device, wherein the at least one optical device is arranged in the fiber and wire holder;
- an electrical contact pin to be electrically coupled to the at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable, the electrical contact pin having a first portion being arranged in the fiber and wire holder and a second portion protruding out of the fiber and wire holder, wherein the second portion of the electrical contact pin has a grooved cylindrical shape being configured to be engaged in a clamp of the receptacle to mechanically fix the plug connector to the receptacle;
- a housing to encapsulate the fiber and wire holder, the housing comprising an opening;
- and
- an insulating element surrounding the first portion of the electrical contact pin, wherein the electrical contact pin protrudes out of the opening of the housing.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.