Patent ID: 6332787
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electro-optical connector, comprising:a receptacle unit and a plug unit releasably securable to the receptacle unit in a mated condition of the units;the units each having a rear end, a front end, and at least two separate chambers extending side-by-side inwardly from the front end, one of said chambers comprising an optical contact chamber and the other of said chambers comprising an electrical contact chamber;at least one optical contact element mounted in said optical contact chamber and at least one electrical contact element mounted in said electrical contact chamber;each of said optical contact chambers having a front end wall having a recessed seat communicating with the respective optical contact chamber, and a seal member movably mounted in the seat, the seal member having at least one through bore and being movable in a non-axial direction relative to the respective unit between a first, closed position in which the through bore is offset from the optical contact chamber and the front end wall of the optical contact chamber is sealed, and a second, open position in which the seal through bore is aligned with the optical contact chamber;the optical contact element in the optical contact chamber of the plug unit extending through the aligned through bores into the optical contact chamber of the receptacle unit when the units are mated together and the seal members are in the open position to contact the optical contact element in the optical contact chamber of the receptacle unit;a first one of the electrical contact chambers having a front end wall having a sealable opening, an annular seal member mounted in the sealable opening, and a resiliently biased stopper movably disposed within the annular seal member and in sealing engagement with the annular seal member when the units are not mated, the electrical contact element in the electrical contact chamber comprising an electrical socket; andthe electrical contact element in the other electrical contact chamber comprising a conductive probe adapted for insertion through the sealable opening in the first electrical contact chamber to sealably engage the annular seal member and engage the electrical contact element in the first electrical contact chamber when the units are mated together.