Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
--1--
BACKGROUND OF THE_INVENTION
This invention relates to a novel optical fiber
connector and housing structure for a hybrid optical/elec~rical
connector and other applications.
In recent years, communications via fiber optics has
enjoyed a rapid rate of growth~ The advantages of transmission
over fiber optic cables include increased capacity and the
elimination of undesirable interference and cros~-talk which
is present in conventional electrically conducting wire cablesO
In spite of these advantages, optical equipment normally still
requires elactrically conducting wires. For example, in an
optical communications repeating station, electrically con
ducting wires are used to provide electrlcal powex for circu.itry
which amplifies or repeats communications signals carried on
optical fibers. Accordingly, it is often times desirable to
interconnect both optical fibers and electrically conducting
wires in a single connection to facilitate installation and
maintenance of communications equipment.
~ owever, various inconsistencies or dif~iculties are
encountered i.n combining the connection of optical fibers
with the connection of electrical conductors. Optical
fi~ers typically have a small light conducting core area,
particularly when employed in long distance applications, and
require tightly controlled tolerances for connections which
provide minimum loss o F transmitted light. On the oth~r hand~
tolerances for connecting electrical conductors are much greater
and allow for mass production of relatively inexpensive con-
'~
5'~ ~
2-
nectors. Clearly, it i9 inefficient to impose the exacting
tolerances requirecl for optical fibers upon an entire connector
system for connecting both optical fibers and electrical con-
ductors.
Various fiber optical c:onnector techniques are well
known in the prior art. For example, one such connector tech-
nique i5 disclosed in United Stat:es Patent r~O. 4,225,214 (wherein
a spring loaded cylinder is retrclcted to expose and guide a
first fiber into a fiber guide where it is placed in contact
with a second fiber). ~Iowever, t.he adaption of known tech-
niques used in fiber optic connec:tors to existing eleckrical
conductor connectors to arrive at a combined fiber/wire
connector, presents various difficulties, such as producing
undue stress or pressure on the fibers resulting in micro
bending losses or fracture of the fibers.
To control the tolerances, fibers must be accurately
cut or pcsitioned relative to defirled elements within fiber
optic connectors so that the ends of two fibers can be
accurately positioned relative to one another or contacted
~0 with one another with little overtravel. Individual fibers
typically are clamped and then cut relative to the clamp.
The design of the fiber clamp is very important since the clamp
must secure the fiber tiyhtly enough to withstand connecting
forces cdue to abutment of fiber ends but not so tightly as
to induce micro bend losses through stress deformation of the
fiber. The design of the clamp is further complicated by the
minute sizes of the fibers bei~g clamped, e.g., a few thousandths
of an inch in diameter for typical optical fibers.
Exemplaxy of existing fiber clamps is that of an
hermaphroditic scissors type clamp which is disclosed in
Lumpp and Margolin United States Patent No. 4,247,163.
For hybrid optical/electrical connectors, as well as
other multi-conductor connectors, it is desirable to assemble
the various conductors and incidental connecting components into
a connector housing which provides for interconnection of all
the different c:onductors in a single operation. The housings
of such connectors are often times molded or cast from a re
latively inflexib].e metal or plastic material.
A wide variety of such connector housings are known~
--3~
These known connector housings, however, do not perform -the
interconnection function, or re~uire three to four different
parts to form the male and female housings, and the various
half shells and parts may be quite similar to one another.
Accordingly, for such known conn~ector housings~ the different
parts must be separated and carefully assembled to insure that
the proper parts and/or half shells are being used at the
appropriate step in the construction of the connector housings.
In one known connector housing, for example, two
identical housing half shells are connected together to incor-
porate additional male parts to form a male housing. Two
more identical housing half shells are connected together to
incorporate additionaL femaLe parts to form a female housiny.
These connector housings require at least three different parts
to form the male and female housingsO
In another known connector housing, two identical
housing half shells are connected together to protect conductor
terminations on either a male connector or a female connector.
However, the known housings so formed do not interconnect one
to another but rely on the enclosed male and female connectors
for such interconnection.
StilL another known connector housing requires four
different housing half shells- two to form the male housing
and two more to form the female housing.
SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
. ~
One useful application of the invention is in a
hybrid connector for the concurrent interconnection of electri-
cal contacts and of optical fibers by relative movement of the
connector into mating engagement with a mating array of
electrical contacts and optical fibers. The connector housing,
which constitutes a subject of the invention, has a mating end,
with electrical contacts supported in the housing and exposed
-toward the mating end thereof. A fiber clamp, fiber guide, and
gauge means within the housing form an optical fiber connector
accordiny to the invention for holding an optical fiber. The
fiber guide and gauge means are disposed between the clamp and
the mating end of the housing for abutment with fiber connection
-4
means of the connec~ing axray of electrical contacts and
optical fibers upon movement of the connector into mating
engagement with the array. The clamp and the guide and gauge
means are mounted within the housing for retractive movemsnt
in a direction away from the mating end relative to the elec-
trical contac~s of ~he connector.
Upon the mating engagement of the connector with the
array of electrical contacts and optical fibers, the clamp and
the yuide and gauge means gauges the connections between the
10 opti¢al fiber held by the clamp and another optical fiber of
the array, independently of the connection between the electri-
cal contacts of the connector and the mating electrical contacts
of the array. Two such hybrid connectors can be pLaced in
mating engagement with one another to interconnect optical
fibers and to interconnect electrical contacts connected to
electrical conductors.
In the illustrative embodiment of the present inven-
tion, which is a hybrid optical/electrical connector, male
and female electrical connectors having intermateable pin and
socket electrical con~acts as well as apertures for receiving
optical fiber connecting elements are received wi~hin first and
second housings. These housings are uniquely constructed in
accordance with the invention to facilitate their fabrication
and assembly with the other connector parts, to enable them to
25 be interlocked to one another to securely interconnect the
è~ectricalconnectors, and to adapt them to more general usage
for interconnecting various communication transmission cables.
According to a feature of the invention, each housing may
comprise two hermaphroditic half shells. A fiber mounting
30 block is retained within each housing and is resiliently biased
toward its associated electrical connector. A fiber clamp
engages an optical fiber and is adapted to be inserted into
one of a plurality of apertures in the mounting block to clamp
the fiber in a fixed position relative to the mounting blockO
3~ One hcusing includes a fiber receptacle between and engaging
the fiber clamp and the associated male electrical connector.
An extension of the fiber receptacle extends into an aperture
o the male connector and includes an optical fiber guide.
The other housing includes a retractable fiber encompassing
1~ ~3 5 ~
--5--
piston reciprocally movable relative to the respective fiber clamp
and extends into and is guided by the associated female electrical
connector.
The fiber in one housing is cut rela~ive to its clamp
such that it extends to the approximate center of the iber guide
mounted in the fiber receptacle extension. The fiber in the other
housing is cut relative to its mount:ing block such that when the
fiber receptacle and the retractable piston are engaged and the
piston is fully retracted, the fiber ends are in contact with one
10 another in the fiber guide~ Each fiber cl~mp firmly clamps its
fiber while it is being cut. The ~lamp has two clamping portions
with opposed rounded clamping surfaces which present smooth suraces
to the fiber to a~oid micxo bending and the associated losses as
the fiber flexes and bends while held by the clamp.
In the preferred clamp, a hinge portion joins the two
clamping portions to facilitate clamping of a fiber by folding the
clamp at the hinge portion and about the fiber.
The hinge portion of the clamp includes a centrally
located aperture which allows for repositioning an optical fiber
20 which may have become misaligned. This is accomplished by inserting
a ~ointed object into the aperture and prying the clamping portions
apart. While the clamping portions are thus spread or opened, the
fiber can be accurately positioned after which the clamping portions
are released to return to their clamping positions.
Advantageously, the optical fiber clamp is constructed
as a unitary piece of resilient material with the hinge portion com-
prising a section of the resilient material which is sufficiently
thin relative to the fiber clamping portions to allow hinged move-
ment of the clamping portions. When folded into a iber clamping
30 position, the structure o the clamp is such that it appears the
same whether viewed from the front or the rear along the axis of the
clamped fiber. This "symmetry" allows the clamp to be folded about
a fiber without special orientation of the clamp relative to the
fiber.
When the connector housings are engaged, their
electxical contacts are interconnected. As the housings and asso-
ciated connectors enter into mating engagement, the f iber recep-
tacle enga~es and drives the retractable fiber
piston back until it engages its associated clamp.
The second fiber end is then contacting the first
fiber end within and near the center of the fi-~er
guide. However, the electricaL ConnectGrS, which are
5designed to the tolerances necessary for connecting
electrical conductors and/or coaxial conductors, are
not completely interconnected and require additional
connectional movement to insure proper interconnec-
tion.
Thus, the iber ends are contacted with one
another prior to the complete interconnecting or
seating of the electrical connectors. Conventional
optical connecting elements could prevent the addi-
tional movement required to seat the connectors or 9
15if such movement occurred, the fibers could be
damaged thereby~ That is, the additional connecting
movement required to completely seat the electrical
connectors would cause forces to be applied to the
contacting optical fibers by the conventional optical
20connecting elements. However, in the present con-
nector, the movemerlt and related forces are ~bsorbed
by the resiliently positioned mounting blocks within
the housings.
The optical fibers are cut to have slight
25excess length. The excess length of the fibers i5
taken up in drip loops developed in the fiber recep-
tacle and the retractable fiber encompassing piston.
Drip loops are also formed between the fiber clamps
and the cable clamps at the ends of the housings
30opposite to the mating ends as the mounting blocks
are articulated away from the connectors to allow for
3~
c~m~lete seating of the connectors. The llousings
include flexible fingers which engage mating snap
latches so that the housings and enclosed connectors
can be releasably connected together. Thus, in
5 accordance with the present invention, both elec-
trical conductors and optical fibers are efficiently
releasably connected in a single connector.
BRIEF D~:SCRIPTION OF THE DR.AWINGS
The invention of the present application
10 will be better understood from a review of the
detailed description of the invention with reference
to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of two inter~
mateable hybrid connectors employing teachings ~f the
15 present inven ion.
FIG~ 2 is a perspective view of the hybrid
connectors of FIG. 1 showing the two connector
housings in an interconnected position.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through
20 one of the connectors of ~IG~ 2, taken generally
along line 3 3.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of
the mating ends of the connectors of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a partially sectional plan-view
25 Of the connectors of FIG~ 1.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are sectional views of the
upper central portion of the connectors as sho~ in
FIG. 4, taken through a fiber optic connection and an
electrical connection, in two stages of intermating.
FIG. 5 is a partially sectional side view
of the connectors of FIG. 1.
--8--
FIGS. 6 through 9 show top, bottom and
sectional views as indicated, respectively, of one of
the hermaphroditic connector half shells, two of
which fc-m each connector housingO
FIGS~ 10 and 11 are a top plan view and a
fron^_ view respectively of the mounting block used in
t~.c hy~rid connecto~s of FIG. 1.
FIG~ 12 is a perspective view of a fiber
clamp used in the connectors o.f FIG. 1 in engagement
1~ with an optical fiber. The clamp is shown in more
detail in FIGS. 13l 14 and 15 which show top, front
and side view~ respectively of the clamp as it is
formed prior to being folded into engagement w.ith a
fiber as in FIG. 12~
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one
optical fiber guide which may be employed in the
hybrid connector of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another
optical fiber guide, employing four guide rods, which
20 may be employe~ in the hybrid connector.
FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary longi-
tudinal sectional view of a iber guide as in FIG.
16, with abutting fibers therein.
FIG. 19 is a fragmentary transverse sec-
25tional view illustrated on an enlarged scale taken online 19-19 of FIG. 180
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLVSTRATED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the two
intermateable hybrid connectors lOA, lOB also shown
30intermated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The male connector
r~
- 9 -
lOA and the female connector lOB are similar, but
~lightly different in internal assembly, and some-
times are identified generically by the number 10.
Each connector 10 comprises two connector
5half shells 12 which~ in the embodiment illustrated
in the drawing, are identical to ~ne another a~d
fully hermaphr~ditic as will ~e de~cribed in detail
herei~after with reference to ~IG5. 6 through 9. The
respective connectox half shells 12 axe joine~
10together ~o form a housing 13 w:hich engages flange~
14 of one of a pair o~ intermat~eable electrical
connectors 16, 18.
Each of the c~nnectors 1~, 18 may utilize
electrical contacts and intermatiny designs of gen-
15erally known construc~ions. For example, they mayutilize the illustrated pin and socket contacts 19,
21 (see FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B) or ribbon-type contacts,
or they may include coaxial cable eontacts. Further
they may be of a high density multiple conta~t
20design, such as the ribbon-type connectors illus-
trated in McKee et al. ~nited States Patent No.
4,040,702 and McKee ~nited States Patent No. 4,113,179
and which are sold commercially by TRW Inc. of lk
Grove Villagel Illinois under the trademarks CINCH
25RIBBON and SUPERIBBON, or the pin and socket type
connectors illustrated in Arson Vnited States Patent
No. 2,790~1~3 and sold by TRW Inc. under the desig-
nation CINCH D-Subminiature connectors.
The ~lectrical connectors 16 and 18 and their
--10--
contac~s are fully engaged with one another when the
hybrid connector assemblies 10 are intermated one to
another.
Each of the connectors 10 also includes
5 connector elements for interconnecting optical
fibers. These elements include fiber clamps 20,
which engage individual fibers 22 and are mounted in
movable mounting blocks 24. Connector lOA further
includes a fiber receptacle 26 which carries a fiber
10 guide 2B, while connector lOB includes a retractable
fiber guide piston 30. An optical fiber 22A i9 held
by a clamp 20 which is mounted in an aperture 32 in a
mounting block 24 of connector lOA. The fiber 22A
extends beyond the clamp 20 and is encompassed by the
15 fiber recep~acle 26 which carries the ~iber guide 28.
The opposing connector lOB includes a fiber 22B which
is to be ccnnected to the fiber 22A near the center
of the fiber guide 28. The fiber 22B is held by a
clamp 20 which is similarly mounted in an aperture 32
20 of a mounting block 24. The fiber 22B extends beyond
the clamp 20 and is encompass~d by the spring-loaded
retractable piston 30~ Each of the electrical
connectors 16, lB is of a configuration to accom-
modate relative reciprocating movement of the re-
25 ceptacle 26 or piston 30, respectively, in adjacentparallel relation to the intermateable electrical
contacts~
As the hybrid connectors 10 are intermated
one to the other, the fiber receptacle 26 engages the
30retractable piston 30 and drives it back towards the
2ssociated clamp 20. As the piston 30 is retracted,
the respective fiber 22B extends ou~ f:rom the piston
30 and into the fiber quide 28. When the piston 30
is seated against its associated clamp 20, the end of
the optical fiber 22B is in light transmissive
engagement, e.~., abutment contact, with the end of
fiber 22A near the center of the fiber guide 2B.
Such engagement of the fibers occurs prior to the
. complete seating o the mating electrical contacts of
the electrical connectors 16, 18 which are subse-
~uently completely seated to insure the connection of
the electrical contacts of these connectors,
The additional linear motion required to
completely seat the electrical contacts of the con-
15nectors 16 and 18 could cause damage to the fiberreceptacle 2~, the retractable piston 30 and/or the
fibers 22 within these fiber connecting elements if
not properly accommodated. However, flat leaf
springs 34 and the movability of the mounting blocks
2024 allow adva~cement of the housings and attached
electrical connectors 16, 18 relative to the mounting
blocks and the associated clamps. This permits the
connectors 16, 18 to become completely seated in
intermating relation with one another while pro-
25tecting the fiber connection and related components,In this way, the connector s 10 provide for the
concurrent interconnection between electrical~and/or
coaxial conductors as well as between optical fibers
by the linear mating engagement of the two unified
30connector assemblies 10~
-12-
The interconnection of the optical fibers
22 is accomplished concurrently and in correlation
with but independently of and in isolation from the
interconnection of the electrical contacts of the
5connectors 16, 18 in ~ single unified connector
asse~bly. Thus the electrical connectors 16, 18 can
be manufactured in accordance with standard tech-
niques and existing tolerances for electrical con-
nectors, which are generally much less stringent than
the techniques and tolerances for optical fiber con-
nectors. However, the more stringent requirements
for optical fiber connectors are obtained in the same
connector assembly. Moreover all of the intercon-
nections are effected by a single plug~in motion.
With further reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 6-
9, the outer end walls of the half shells 12, oppo-
site to the mating end walls, form cable recei~ing
clamping scallops 36 which engag~ and clamp cables
entering the connector housings 13 formed when two
20half shells 12 are coupled together. By clamping
cables coming into the housings, such as fiber optic
cables C~ and~or electrical cables Ce, mechanical
strain relief is proviaed, i.e., strains are trans-
ferred from the cables directly to the housing 13
25formed by the connector half shells, ~o minimize
strain on the electrical or optical conductors and
connections. Various clamping collars or inserts 38,
see FIG. 4, may be included for the clamping of
cables of different si7es and types. As noted
30further below, the opposing side walls 40 of each
shell are formed with channels 42 for reciprocally
mounting the bloc~s 24.
s~
-13-
Fiber cable C~l is composed of a number ~f
concentric sheaths and longitudinally disposed
strength members 44 which add tPnsile strength to the
cable and which may romprise plastic or steel fila-
5ments. The innermost concentric element of fibercable Cfl comprises an optical fibex 22A which is
adapted to convey signals in the normal course of
use. Of course t multiple optical ibers may be
pr~vided in a single cable.
a Each iber strain relief clamp 20/ shown in
more detail in FIGS. 12 through 15, is molded as a
single piece of plastic material and is hingedly
folded to wrap around an optical fiber 22 normal to
the axis of the fiber. A clamp 20 clamps, supports
15and provides strain relief for each individual fiber
22. The lower portion of each strain relief clamp 20
comprises a cylindrical post 46 which is inserted
into one of a plurality of apertures 32 in a mounting
block 24, see FIGS. ~0 and 11. The post 46 extends
20noxmal to the axis of a clamped fiber and includes a
beveled end portion 48. Each aperture 32 includes a
beveled entrance 32A to facilitate entry of the post
46 into one of the respective apertures 32. Place~
ment of a clamp 20 into a mounting block 24 is
25 further enhanced by positioning the apertures 32
within grooves 50 formed in the top of mounting block
24. Posts 46 frictionally engage the apertures 32 to
secure the clamps 20 to the mounting blocks 24.
Each clamp 20 includes a first clamping
portion 52 and a second clamping por~ion 54 which are
interconnected by a thinner integral hinge portion
56~ The clamping portions 52 and 54 include rounded
5 fiber clampin~ surfaces 52A and 54A as best seen in
FIGSo 12 and 15. The apexes of rounded surfaces 52A
and 54A engage and clamp an optical fiber. The
rounded contours present smoot.h surfaces to a fiber
to avoid micro bending and the losses associated with
10 micro bending as optical fibers flex and bend durillg
connector intermating.
The clamping portions 52 and 54 include
cylindrical post portions 46A and 46B respectively
which contact one another ~9 form the post 46 when
15 the clamp is folded upon itself about hinge axis 57.
Clamping portion 54 includes a three-quarter cylin-
drical projection 58 extending from one side thereof
and the clamping portio~ ~2 i.ncludes a reversed
three-quarter cylindrical projection 60 extending
20 from its opposite sideD Clamp portion 5~ is provided
with a channel 62 to accommodate a portion of the
projection 58 when the clamp is folded as shown in
FIG. 12. A similar channel 64 in the clamping
portion 54 accommodates a portion of the projection
Z5 60. When clamp 20 is folded into clamping config-
uration as shown in FIG. 12, the projection 58
constitutes a three-quarter cylindrical section,
extending from the three olclock to twelve o'clock
positions, while the projection 60 constitutes a
30 three-~uarter cylindrical section, extending from the
twelve o'clock to ni.ne o'clock pcsitions. A review
5~
-15-
of FIGS. 12 through 15 Teveals that cl~np 20, when
fold~d, appears the same whether viewed from the
front or the back. This "symmetry" facilitates fiber
clamping since special orientation of the cl~np is
5unnecessary when folding a clamp about a fiber.
Cl~np 20 is hingedly folded about a fiber
22 so that the fiber is engaged by the rounded
surfaces 52A and 54A of the cl~nping portions 52 and
5~ as shown in FIG. 12. Post 46 of the clamp then is
lOinserted into one of the apertures 32 in a mounting
block 24 to support the cl~nped fiber in a horizontal
position. The fiber is supported at both sides of
the clamping portions 52 and 54 by cantilevered
support surfaces 58A and 60A formed by the pro~ec-
15tions S8 and 60. Support surfaces 58A and 60A arerounded, as best seen in FIG. 14, to provide support-
ing contact with the fiber at two predetermined
points to insure that the fiber protrudes perpen-
dicularly from the cl~np.. Projections 58 and 60
20include peripheral grooves 58B and 60B respectively,
for spring support purposes as noted further below.
Hinge 56 includes an elongated aperture 66
which provides for convenient adjustment of the posi-
tion of a fiber after it has been clamped and mounted
25 in the mounting block 24. Adjustment of the fiber
may be necessary if it becomes misaligned from the
horizontal aftex clamping. Adjustment is conve-
niently accomplished by inserting a pointed object
(not shown), such as a pin, into aperture 66 and
~Oapplying a pr~ing force to the pointed object to
spread clamping portions 52 and 54 apart~ Fiber 22
can then be repositioned before allowing the clamp to
- return to its clamping position.
-16-
Resilient hinge 56 also reduces the re-
quired tolerances between post 46 and aperture 32,
into which it is fitted, and insures a firm yet
gentle clamping ~f the fiber between clamping portions
5 52 and 54. If a tight fit between a post 46 and an
aperture 32 ~ccurs, hinge ~5 permits a slight opening
motion of the upper portions of clamping portions 52
and 54 to maintain a firm yet gentle clamping force
on the fiber. On the other hand, if the tolerances
10 of a post 46 and an aperture 32 result in a loose yet
firm fit, the hinge 56 maintains approximately ~he
same firm yet gentle clamping force on the iber.
The combination of a mounting block 24 and
fiber clamp 20 with a fiber clamped thereinl serv~s
15 as a convenient reference for rapidly and accurately
measuring and cutting the fibers for interconnection
in the connector sf the present invention. The use
of this clamp mounting combination also simplifies
the requirements for the fiber cutting tool, the
20 assembly of the connectors and khe handling of the
fibers.
After the fibers have been clamped and cut
to the appropriate length relative to the front
surface 24A of the respective mounting block 24, the
25 mounting block is ready for insertion into the
channels 42 formed in a housing hal shell 12. Each
mounting block ~4 includes a leaf spring portion 34
comprising resilient arms 34A and 34B. Each mounting
block 24 and the leaf spring 34 preferably comprise
30 an integral p~astic part. The outer ends of the
front surface 24A and the outer ends of the arms 34A
and 34B frictionally engage the front and rear end
shoulders 42A and 42B respecti~ely of the opposed
channels 42 which are formed on the inside o side
walls 40 of each half shell 12. Each mounting block
5 24 is dimensioned relati~e to the length of the
respective channels 42 to pe~nit the block to retract
or move away from its associated electrical corlnector
by compression Df the spring 34 against the rearward
end shoulders 42B o the channel~. The front end
10 shoulders 42A serve as forward stops to position the
block in the shell.
Referring particularly ~o FIGS. 4, 4A and
4B, a fiber receptacle 26 i5 fitted over each fiber
22A. An extension 26A of each receptacle then is
15 inserted into an aperture 6~ in the male electrical
connector 16, and the combination of the mounting
block, clamp, fiber, receptacle and electrical
connector ~re inserted into the lower housing half
shell. The aperture 68 extends through an insulator
20 body 16A of the connector 16, parallel to the con-
tacts of the electrical connector, and is of a size
to accommodate free reciprocating movement of the
receptacle extension 26A therein.
~iber xeceptacle 26 includes fiber guide 28
25 in the extension 26A which slidably engages the aper-
ture 68 o the connector 16. The fiber guide 28 can
be frictionally inserted into extension 26A or may be
imbedded therein during the formation of the recep-
tacle. An aperture 26B formed in receptacle exten-
30 sion 26A, through which the end of optical fiber 22A
is threaded to enter fiber guide 28, has an innertapered entryway 70 to acilitate insertion of the
optical fiber into the aperture. The fiber recep-
tacle 26 includes an annular shoulder 72 which
~engages an inner face 74 o the connector 16. The
rec~ptacle extension 26A, which includes the fiber
guide 28, extends beyond the outer face of connect~r
16 to serve as a male mating pin for the optical
fiber.
FIG. 3 i~ a cross-sec:tion through the left
half connector housing of FIG. 2 along the line 3-3.
Wire shield 76 is engaged in channels 78 fo~ned on
the inside of side walls 40 of the hermaphroditic
connector half shells 1~ As shown in FIG. 3, the
15thickness of edges 80 of shield 76 are double the
depth dimension of channels 78 such that shield 76 is
securely held within two half shells 12 when they are
mated together to form a connector housing 13.
Shield 76 provides separation of electrical con-
20ductors which go above the shield and optical fibersand optical fiber connecting elements which go
be~eath the shiel~. The interconnection of elec-
trical conductors and coaxial cables is via pin and
socket connections in accordance with well known
25 techniques and will not be further described in the
present application. Perspective views of the mating
ends of the connectors lOA and lOB are shown in FIGS.
3A and 3B respectively. FIGS. 3A and 3B clearly show
that the illustrated embodiment interconnects five
30electrical conduc~ors and two optical fibers.
-19-
The optical fiber guide 28 employed in the
fiber receptacle 26 of FIGS~ 1 and 4 i5 not ~ se an
inventi.ve feature of the hybrid ccnnect~r. The use
Qf such optical fiber guides ~s disclosed in ~.SO
~Patent No. 4,X25,214,
Optical fiber guide ;28 as is clearly seen
in F~G. lB c~mprises an asse~bly of three or mor~
glass rods ~uch as r~d5 82, ~4 a~d 86 arrange~ in
lOside-by ~ide relationship and paralle~ to each other.
Longitudinal peripheral p~rti~ns of adjacent rods are
in contact ~nd fused together s~ as to form a cusp-
shaped interstitial channel or fiber passageway 88
illustrated in ~ectional view in FIG. 19. It will be
151Joted from ~IG. 18 that the end portions ~f the rods
defining ~pp~sed entranceways 90 are o~ smaller
diameter than the remaining roa portions. The
entranceways 90 are thus of greater cross-sectional
area than the inner interstitial passageway 8B~ Such
20enlarged openings at oppose~ ends of the optical
fiber guide 28 facilitate threading or entering of an
optical fiber end in~o the passageway.
h~ereas FIG. 18 illustrates an optical
fiber guide 28 composed o three glass rods B2, 84
2~and 86, FI~, 17 illustrates an assembly 92 of four
glass rods 94 which form~ a passageway having four
cusps. Also, the xods 94 thereof are formed about a
uniform arc. A four rod assembly 92 provides upper
and lower cusps as seen in FIG. 17 which facilitates
30alignment of fiber ends to be connec~ed within the
guide~ A four-rod assembly having a bent profile as
in FIG. ~8 is the preferred guide for use in the
illustrated embodiment.
-20-
~ fter for~,a~ion, the fiber guide 28 may be
molded .into extension 26A vf recep~acle 26 if s~
desired. The receptacle may be formed of ~ moldable
plas~ic such as Nylon, ABS, Styrene, Nory ~ ~r a
5 castable plasti~ such as an epc>xy resin~ In the
cour~e of such molding r care must be taken to plug
oppcse~ guide entranceways 90 wit~ a r~aaily r~mov
able material ~o as to in~ure t:ha~ ~o guide passage-
way p~rti~n is plugged in the course of embedding
guide 28 in the receptacle extension~
With particular re$erence ko FIGS~ 1 and 4s
the righthand housing half shells 12 receive the
female electrical connector 18, and a mountin~ block
24 i~ mounted into opposed channels 42 Df the lower
15 housing half shel~ 12. Fiber cable C~2, including
strength members 96, is clamped i~ scallops of the
righthand connector housing. The innermost con-
centric element o~ fiber cable Cf2 comprises optical
fiber 22B which is to be placed in contact with fiber
2022A. Fiber 22B is clamped by a fiber clamp 20 and
the fiber clamp 20 is inserted into an aperture 32 of
a mounting block 24 as previously described. After
fiber 22B is clamped in the mounting block ~4, the
fiber is cut to a predetermined length such that it
2~will contact fiber 22A in fiber guide 28 once the
connector housings are mated together as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4.
After fibex 22B has been cut to length~
spring 98 is fitted over the fiber and engaged with
30groove 58B of three~quarter (3/4) cylindrical pro-
jection 58 on clamp 20. The fiber encompassing
~ ~ ~S5L~
-21-
piston 30 is ne~:t fitted--over fiber 22B and spring
98. Piston 30 includes extension 30A which extends
into an aperture 100 of an insulator body 18A of the
connector 18 as shown in FIG5. 4, 4A and 4B. Spring
5 ~8 forces piston 30 toward the ~electrical connector
18 such that an annular shoulder 102 engages inner
surface 104 of connector 18 and extension 30A extends
to and is approximately 1ush with outer surface 106
of the insulator body 18A of the connector 18 as
10 shown in FIG. 4A and indicated by the d~shed line 108
in FIG. 4.
Aperture 110 of piston 30, through which
the end o optical fiber 22B is threaded, has inner
tapered entr~way 112 to facilitate insertion of the
15 optical fiber into the opening. Entranceway 90 to
fiber guide 28 provides room in which the ~iber may
bend in the course of entering the fiber guide~
The sequence of interconnection fox the
connectors 10 is sh~wn in ~IGS. 4A, 4B and 4. FIGS.
20 4A and 4B are sectional views of the upper central
portion of the connectors 10 of FIG. 4. In FIG. 4A,
the initial state of intermating of the connectors is
shown. The electrical connectors 16, 18 are aligned
with one another and the electrical contacts and
2~ optical connecting elements are just touching or in
initial mating contact with one another.
As the connectors 10 are mated together to
interconnect the electrical connectors 16, 18, a
recess 11~ in the distal end of piston 30 mates with
30the conical distal end 116 of fiber recept~cle
-22-
extension ~6A which is projecting from the outer face
of the electrical connector 16. As the intercon-
nection of the electrical connectors 16, 18 proceeds,
fiber receptacle 26 is telescopicall~ received in the
5aperture 100 of the connector :L8 and forces the
spring loaded piston 30 to retract toward the respec-
tive clamp 20 which spring 98 also engages Simul--
taneously with the retraction ~f piston 30, optical
fiber ~2B proceeds into entryway 90 of optical fiher
lOguide 28, see FIG~ 18. In accordance with well known
electrical connector technology, electrical pin
contacts 19 of the male connector 16 concu.rrently
engage and are received by electrical socket contacts
- 21. of the female connector 18.
In FIG. 4B, the electrical connectors 16,
18 are almost completely enyaged with one another.
The retractable piston 30 seats upon its associated
clamp 20 and the end of fiber 22B contacts the end of
fiber 22A near the center of fiber guide 28 in the
~Ofiber receptacle extension 26Ao At this point, the
optical fiber connection i5 complete, under ~he
tolerance control of the lengths of the fibers 22A
and 22B extending fr~m the clamps 20 and the lengths
of the receptacle 26 and piston 3G extending between
25the clamps.
Fibers 22A and 22B preferably will have
been cut ~o provide slight excess length as pre-
viously described to insure their contact within
fiber guide 28. The excess fiber, as compared to the
s~
-~3-
dimension established by the receptacle 26 and pis~on
30, forms "drip loops" 122 within the receptacle and
the piston, as shown in exagge:rated scale in FIG5. 4B
and 4.
As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the electrical
connectors 16, 18 are not fully seated at this stage
of interconnection. Accordingly, the integrity of
the electrical connection of the contacts for elec-
trical conductors ;s not yet insured. To complete
10 the connec~ion of the electrical contacts and con
comitantly to complete the mechanical joining of the
housings 13 of the two assemblies lOA and lOB; a
slight additional closing or interconnecting motion
of the connectors to their fully intermated condition
15 is re~uired. This motion is accommodated by the
movability of the mounting blocks 24 permitted by the
springs 34~ relati~e to the housings 13 and the
attached electrical connectors 16, 18, whereby the
housings and the electrical connectors may be advanced
20 to their ~ully intermated positions independently of
the optical fiber connection, as shown in FIG. 4.
The springs 34 prefexably are of much greater com-
pressi~e strength, i.e., much gxeater modulus of
elasticity than the spring 98, whereby the piston 30
25 normal1y will seat against ~he respective clamp 20 to
A llow completivn of the fiber optic connection prior
to relative retractive movement of the clamps 20 and
blocks 24.
-2~-
Of cours2, coil sprin~s or other resilient
mem~ers can be used to urge the mounting blocks
toward their associa~ed connectors. The slight
articulation of mounting blocXs 24 is indicated by
5gaps 124 between the end shoulders 42A of channels 42
and the front surface 24a of mounting blocks 24,
which gaps are exaggerated in 1:he drawing ~or illus-
tration. In this regard, the gaps remaining for full
seating of the electrical connectors 16l 18 after
10completion of the optic connections also are ex-
aggerated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, for purpose of illus-
tration.
Fibers 22A and 22B also form drip loops 126
between mounting blocks 24 and the cable clamps at
15the ends of the housings.
In this manner, both electrical contacts
and optical fibers are interconnected by th~ inter-
mating of tw~ unified hybrid connect~rs of the
present invention.
Each of the connector housings 13 is formed
from two half shells 12 to support and retain the
components of the respective assembly in their
re~uired cooperative relationship to form a unitary
hybrid connector~ Each housing 13 also provides the
25means to retain a connector 10 in intermated con-
nection with a cooperative array of electrical
contacts and optical fibers, such as in a like
connector. One embodiment of the hermaphroditic
connector half shells 12 is shown in FIGS. 6 through
309. The illustrated housing half shell structure
.. . . . .
~25-
allows an ident.ical unitary molded part to be used in
place of up to four parts to form intermating con-
nector nousings. Two of the housing half shells 12
are snapped together to form one connector housing 13
5 which can, in turnr be snappecl together with-a like -
housing, see FIGo 2~ Each half shell 12 includes two
split posts 128 positioned diag~nally opposite to one
another and matching snap sockets 130 lso positioned
diagonally oppos.ite to one another. Each socket 130
10 recei~es a split upper extension 132 of the respec-
tive post 1~8 when two of the housing half shells 12
are interconnected face to face.
The connector half shells 12 provide a
convenient structure for assembly of the various
15 optical fiber and electrical connecting parts. Once
the parts are assembled on a lower hal~ shell, an
upper half shell is snapped onto the lower half shell
to hold the parts in place and form a connector
housing 13. As described above, the resulting
20 housing clamps the cables and mounts both the elec-
trical and the optical fiber connecting elements in
their cooperative relationships.
~ ach connector housing 13 also has two
diagonally opposite flexible fingers 134 and snap
25 latches 136 at its mating end. ~n~en two connector
housings 13 are connected together, the fingers 134
engage the snap latches 136 to securely interconnect
the connector housings 13 and the respective compo-
nents, both electrical and optical.
5~
-~6-
Cantilever disconnect arms 138 ar~ posi-
tioned within slots 140 of each housing half shell 12
with the ends of arms 138 being positioned adjacent
to the snap latches 136. Disconnect arms 138 are
5 positioned to permit flexible fingers 134 to engage
snap latches 136 as best shown in FIG. 5. Di~connect
arms 138 axe sufficiently 1exible so that they can
be depressed by hand pressure to disengage flexible
ingers 134 from snap~latches 136. Accordingly?~two ~ --
10 connector housings 13 which have been connected
together can be released from one another by applying
pressure to the four disconnect arms 138, su~h as by
pressure exerted by the thumbs and index fingers of
both hands to both housings 13. Should a more
15 permanent interconnection be desired, a wire, screw,
nut and bolt or other fastener can be inserted
through apertuxes 142 of flanges 14 of electrical
connectors 16 and 18 to accommodate such pe~nanent
interconnection.
For ease of releasing two interlocked
connector housings, it may be preferred to provide a
single flexible finger and mating latch/disconnect
arm at the mating end of the connector housings.
Such a simplified, single latch arrangement can be
25 attained by providing two diferent half shell
designs, e.g., one with a finger similar to finger
134 centrally located on its mating end, and one
with a latch similar to latch 136 centrally located
,- ~ - . .
~55'~
-27-
on its mating end. Two such half shells woul~ be
snapped together to form a connector housing in the
manner described above.
By joining one such half shell having a
~inger and one such half shell having a latch to form
each 04nnector housing, and properly orienting the
respectiv2 electrical and fibex optic connector
elements therein, any such connector housing contain-
ing the male connector elements may be joined with
10 any such connector housing containing the female
connector elements. The fingers and latches D~ the
connector housings will assure proper polarization
~ for joining the male and female connectors.
Alternatively, two identical half shells
lS having such fingers thereon could be joined to one
another to form one housing, and two identical ~alf
shells having such latches thereon could be joined
to one anothex to form another housing. Male
connector elements would be placed in one housing
20 and female connector elements would be placed in ~he
other. Each such connector housing thereby would
be readily identified as male or female and the
orientation of the connector elements in the re-
spective housings would not be critical since the
25 housings would not be polarized~ However, polari-
zation would be determined by other means or by the
user when mating those oonnector housings.
.. .. . . . . .
.~ ?S5~
--28--
Of course, since t~o different half shell
designs are required in a ~single latch, single finger
arrangement, the advantages of inventory reduction, a
single molding ana reduced potential for confusion
5during assembly are los~.
From the above description, it is appaxent
that a unified hybrid connector for concurrently
interconnecting both optical-fibers and electrical
conductors and/or coaxiai cables has been achieved -=
which provides an efficient releasable connection ~ia
a single assembly~ While only an i~lustrative ~- -
embodiment has been set forth, alternative embodi~
ments and various modi~ications will be apparent from
the above description to those skilled in the art.
15For example, coil springs or other resilient members
could replace the leaf springs employed on the
mounting blocks. Also, alternate interconnecting and
interlo~king arrangements coula be provided between
and among the housing half shells. Further, in view
20 of the teachinys of the above descrip~ion, it would
he apparent to one skilled in the art that a converse
structure having resiliently mounted electrical
contacts and fixed optical connecting members could
perform the same interconnecting function. Further-
25more, the fiber receptacle of the male connectorcould be spring loaded relative to its fiber clamp
similar to the spring loaded mounting of the piston
of the female connector. These and other alterna-
tives are considered equivalents and within the
-29-
spirit and scope of the present inven~ion~ While the
illustrative embodiment provides for the intercon-
nection of two optical fibers and five electrical
conductors, an~ reasonable number, combinatiGn and
5 arrangement of elec~rical and optical conductors can
be accommodated within the teachings of the present
invention.
.. , . , ~, . . .. . . ..
