Patent ID: 6206729
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An electrical and optical interconnect system, comprising:a first electrical connector having a plurality of spaced apart sets of electrically conductive contacts, each said contact set having multiple signal contacts spaced outwardly from a central optical cable, each of said optical cables having an end for transmitting light with a first printed circuit board and a connector end, each of said signal contacts having a card end for contact with a signal path in the first printed board and a connector end;a second electrical connector having a plurality of spaced apart sets of electrically conductive contacts, each said contact set having multiple signal contacts spaced outwardly from a central optical cable, an insulator at least partially surrounding said central optical cable and multiple signal contacts spaced outwardly from said insulator, each of said optical cables having an end for transmitting light between a second printed circuit board and a connector end, each of said signal contacts having an end for contact with a signal path in the second printed circuit board and a connector end,wherein when said first electrical connector is mated with said second electrical connector, said optical cables in said second electrical connector and said first electrical connector are in optical contact and said signal contacts in said first electrical connector and said second electrical connector are in electrical contact.