CONNECTEUR ELECTRO-OPTIQUE COAXIAL MAGNETIQUE

MAGNETIC COAXIAL ELECTRO-OPTICAL CONNECTOR DEVICE

Abrégé anglais

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. This invention relates to coaxial
connector devices, and the principal use of the invention is
for electro-optical connection.

Revendications

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A coaxial electro-optical connector device, comprising:

~ a coaxial electro-optical cable having a planar end, the
coaxial electro-optical connector device comprising:

~ a centre optical waveguide for carrying optical
signals, the centre optical waveguide having a
connection point; and

~ a plurality of outer electrical conductors around
the centre optical waveguide for carrying electrical
power, each electrical conductor separated by an
electrical insulator from another electrical
conductor, each electrical conductor having a
connection point; and

~ a coaxial electro-optical adapter securely attached to
the coaxial electro-optical cable comprising;

~ a ring-shaped magnetic element having a rotationally
symmetrical axis, the ring-shaped magnetic element
magnetised along the symmetrical axis; and

~ means for holding and biasing the ring-shaped
magnetic element;

the ring-shaped magnetic element engaging with a mating ring-
shaped magnetic element of another coaxial electro-optical
adapter and providing self-alignment so that the centre
optical waveguide optically connects with a centre optical
waveguide of another coaxial electro-optical cable, and that
the outer electrical conductor electrically connects with an
outer electrical conductor of another coaxial electro-optical
cable, the connection point of the centre optical waveguides
and the connection point of the outer electrical conductors
laterally align with the ring-shaped magnetic elements at
simultaneous planar mating surfaces in flush fashion.


2. The coaxial electro-optical connector device as defined in
claim 1, further comprising:

~ a wall-mountable socket having a front end and a back
end, the socket made of a non-magnetic material, the
socket having 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;







the socket being capable of securely attaching to a wall
outlet or to an opto-electronic device in self-alignment
fashion.


3. The coaxial electro-optical connector device as defined in
claim 1, in which the ring-shaped magnetic element of the
coaxial electro-optical adapter is made of a rare-earth
permanent magnet.


4. The coaxial electro-optical connector device as defined in
claim 1, in which the centre optical waveguide of the coaxial
electro-optical cable is a glass fibre.


5. The coaxial electro-optical connector device as defined in
claim 1, in which the centre optical waveguide of the coaxial
electro-optical cable is a plastic fibre.


6. The coaxial electro-optical connector device as defined in
claim 1, in which the centre optical waveguide of the coaxial
electro-optical cable is a liquid light guide.


7. The coaxial electro-optical connector device as defined in
claim 1, in which the centre optical waveguide of the coaxial
electro-optical cable is a quartz light guide.



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Description

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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CA 02320684 2007-08-30

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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CA 02320684 2007-08-30

= 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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