Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02320684 2007-08-30
Description
Title
= Magnetic Coaxial Electro-Optical Connector Device
Technical Field
= This invention relates to coaxial connector devices, more
particularly to a coaxial electro-optical connector device.
Background Art
= There are many instances where it would be desirable to be
able to magnetically connect both electrical conductors and
optical waveguides in a coaxial cable.
= A number of patents disclose magnetic connectors for
electrical conductors and/or optical waveguides in different
configurations.
= Canadian Patent 1 113 760 discloses "MAGNETIC CONNECTOR FOR
OPTICAL CABLES". This prior art magnetically connects optical
waveguides, but does not have a coaxial configuration.
= U.S. Patent 4 690 495 discloses "Optical fiber magnetic
connector". This prior art magnetically connects optical
waveguides, but does not have a socket assembly.
= U.S. Patent 4 844 582 discloses "Hybrid electro-optical
connectors", and U.S. Patent 5 015 061 discloses "Optical
connector". These prior arts magnetically connect both
electrical conductors and optical waveguides, but do not have
a coaxial configuration.
= U.S. Patent 5 401 175 discloses "Magnetic coaxial connector".
This prior art magnetically connects electrical conductors,
but does not have a socket assembly.
= U.S. Patent 6 004 045 discloses "Optical connector". This
prior art magnetically connects optical waveguides, but does
not have a socket assembly.
= These prior art arrangements do nat have both electrical
conductors and optical waveguides in a coaxial configuration.
Description of the Invention
= It is a primary object of the invent;on to provide a coaxial
electro-optical connector device for connecting both
electrical conductors and optical waveguides in a coaxial
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CA 02320684 2007-08-30
configuration.
= It is another object of the invention to provide a coaxial
electro-optical connector device which connects one connector
to another connector, or one connector to an electro-optical
device by a magnetic force.
= A magnetic coaxial electro-optical connector device comprises
a coaxial electro-optical cable and a coaxial electro-optical
adapter. The coaxial electro-optical cable comprises a centre
optical waveguide for carrying optical signals and a
plurality of outer electrical conductors around the centre
optical waveguide for carrying electrical power. The coaxial
electro-optical adapter comprises a ring-shaped magnetic
element magnetised along the axis and means for holding and
biasing the ring-shaped magnetic element. The ring-shaped
magnetic element engages with a mating ring-shaped magnetic
element of another coaxial electro-optical adapter and
provides alignment. The coaxial electro-optical connector
device further comprises a socket made of a non-magnetic
material, having a cylindrical recess. The socket is capable
of securely attaching to a wall outlet or to an opto-
electronic device.
Brief Description of the Figures in the Drawings
= In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
o Figure 1 marked "Prior Art" is a perspective view of a
conventional coaxial connector device;
o Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
coaxial electro-optical connector device according to
the invention;
o Figure 3 is a sectional view of the invention along line
I-I of Figure 2;
o Figure 4 is a sectional view of the invention along line
II-II of Figure 2;
o Figure 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a
coaxial electro-optical connector device according to
the invention; and
o Figure 6 is an expanded sectional view of the coaxial
electro-optical connector device according to the
invention.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
= One conventional coaxial connector device shown in Figure 1
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marked "Prior Art" comprises a coaxial electrical cable 1-0
and a male coaxial electrical adapter 2-0, securely attached
to the coaxial electrical cable 1-0.
= The conventional coaxial electrical cable 1-0 comprises a
centre electrical conductor and an outer electrical conductor
around the centre electrical conductor for carrying
electrical signal. Each electrical conductor is separated by
an electrical insulator from another electrical conductor.
= The conventional male coaxial electrical adapter 2-0
comprises a ring-shaped mechanical element 2-1, and means 2-2
for holding and biasing the ring-shaped mechanical element 2-
1, most likely with a mechanical spring.
= The conventional male coaxial connector device further
comprises a female coaxial electrical adapter 3-0. The female
coaxial electrical adapter 3-0 is capable of securely
attaching to a wall outlet or to an opto-electronic device,
as shown in Figure 1.
= The conventional coaxial connector device makes a mechanical
connection, which is prone to vibration, leading to low
reliability of the connection.
= in one embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, a
coaxial electro-optical connector device comprises a coaxial
electro-optical cable 4-0 and a coaxial electro-optical
adapter 5-0 securely attached to the coaxial electro-optical
cable 4-0.
= Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the coaxial electro-
optical connector device along line I-I of Figure 2. Figure 4
shows a sectional view of the coaxial electro-optical
connector device along line II-II of Figure 2.
= The coaxial electro-optical cable 4-0 has a planar end. The
coaxial electro-optical cable 4-0 comprises a centre optical
waveguide 4-1 for carrying optical signals, and a plurality
of outer electrical conductors 4-2 and 4-3 around the centre
optical waveguide 4-1 for carrying electrical power (DC
electrical power or AC electrical power). Each electrical
conductor is separated by an electrical insulator from
another electrical conductor, as shown in Figure 6.
= The coaxial electro-optical adapter 5-0 comprises a ring-
shaped magnetic element 5-1. The ring-shaped magnetic element
5-1 has a rotationally symmetrical axis, and is magnetised
along the symmetrical axis, and means 5-2 for holding and
biasing the ring-shaped magnetic element 5-1, as shown in
Figure 2 and Figure 3. Biasing may be provided by a
mechanical spring or by elasticity of a plastic material.
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= The ring-shaped magnetic element 5-1 engages with a mating
ring-shaped magnetic element of another coaxial electro-
optical adapter, and also provides self-alignment so that the
centre optical waveguide 4-1 optically connects with a centre
optical waveguide of another coaxial electro-optical cable,
and that the outer electrical conductor 4-2 and 4-3
electrically connects with an outer electrical conductor of
another coaxial electro-optical cable.
= The coaxial electro-optical connector device may further
comprise a wall-mountable socket 6-0 made of a non-magnetic
material. The socket 6-0 has a cylindrical recess in order to
securely attach a first coaxial electro-optical adapter on
the back end and to detachably receive a second coaxial
electro-optical adapter on the front end, as shown in Figure
3. The socket 6-0 is capable of securely attaching to a wall
outlet or to an opto-electronic device in a self-alignment
fashion.
= In another embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5, the
socket 7-0 directly connects the coaxial electro-optical
adapter of a first coaxial electro-optical connector device
and the coaxial electro-optical adapter of a second coaxial
electro-optical connector device, and provides further
alignment.
= Preferably, the ring-shaped magnetic element 5-1 of the
coaxial electro-optical adapter 5-0 is made of a rare-earth
permanent magnet.
= The centre optical waveguide 4-1 of the coaxial electro-
optical connector device may be a glass fibre, a plastic
fibre, a liquid light guide, or a quartz light guide.
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