Combined beam waveguide and metal cable plug connector

Abstract: This invention relates to a combined beam waveguide and metal cable plug connector with an angled cable outlet, comprising: a housing (1), in which beam waveguide plugs (4) and flat contact springs are disposed on the plug side in contact chambers (2, 3) provided for the purpose while an outlet aperture for the cables (5, 21) is provided at the rear. The opening for the cables comprises a channel (6), the base of which is bent at an angle of 90° maximum to the plug axis and which is open towards the back of the plug connector. The metal cables (21) are taken out of the housing (1) in one or more layers on the channel base (6). A snap cap (7) closes the channel (6) at the rear and has lateral ducts (8) in which beam waveguide cables (5) are accommodated, the ducts (8) ensuring that the beam waveguide cables (5) are deflected with a radius which is non-damaging to the beam waveguide cables.

Description: This invention relates to a combined beam waveguide and metal cable plug connector in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. Plug connectors of this kind can be used wherever optical signal transmission and an electrical power supply are involved simultaneously. For example, in modern motor vehicles, the data transmission is by way of beam waveguides and the electrical power is fed to the loads via metal cables. The metal cables and the beam waveguide cables are taken out of the plug housing jointly at the back of the plug connector. In such cases, the electrical cable cores and the beam waveguide cables are frequently combined into a bunch and possibly surrounded by a common protective covering. In such cases there is a risk that despite their sensitivity to kinking and bending with too small a radius of curvature, the beam waveguide cables may undergo the same treatment as the metal cables, which are insensitive in this respect. A permanent or even just temporary curvature of the beam waveguide cables with too small a radius of curvature can permanently damage the beam waveguide fibres and result in excessive attenuation. This is particularly important if a 90° cable outlet is required. The object of this invention is to so to improve a combined beam waveguide and metal cable plug connector as to enable the beam waveguide cables together with the metal cables to be taken in defined manner laterally out of the plug housing with a high degree of relief from tension, while ensuring that the beam waveguide cables are so treated as to avoid any bends which cause attenuation. In addition, the beam waveguide plugs are to be axially movable in order to ensure permanent contact with the opto-electronic components despite tolerances. This problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are indicated in the sub-claims. By means of the snap cap according to the invention, the beam waveguide cables have optimal guidance over the entire area of their change of direction within the plug housing so as reliably to avoid any bends. The metal cables and beam waveguide cables are combined at the outlet of the plug connector, from where the cable can be run on with substantially no appreciable abrupt changes of direction. The invention is explained in detail below with reference to one exemplified embodiment and the drawing wherein: Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a combined beam waveguide and metal cable plug connector according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows the snap cap according to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the cap. Fig. 4 is a cap looking from the cable outlet side and Fig. 5 shows the outlet end of the plug connector housing with the cap engaged, looking from the cable outlet side. Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a plug connector housing 1 having contact chambers to receive flat spring contacts (not shown) and a socket 3 for the beam waveguide plugs 4 of a beam waveguide cable 5. At its connection side, the plug connector housing 1 has a U-shaped channel 6, through which the cables are taken out of the plug housing. On the connection side of the plug connector housing 1 the U-shaped channel is closed by a snap cap 7. Cap 7 covers the rear zone of the housing from the beam waveguide cable socket as far as the output end of the U-shaped channel 6. The cap 7 has ducts 8 into which the beam waveguide cables 5 are inserted. The duct 8 is so shaped that the beam waveguide cable nowhere experiences a curvature of a radius below the minimum permissible radius of curvature for beam waveguide cables. This obviates any damage to the beam waveguide cable. Also, the duct 8 is so devised that an axial movement is possible damped by a silicone spring of the plug 4. The cap 7 is releasably secured by the engagement of detent lugs 9a, 9b in matching grooves in the housing 1. The cap 7 also shuts off the rear of the U-shaped channel 6 so that the metal cables (not shown) taken out of the plug connector housing 1 between the base 10 of the channel 6 and the underside of the cap 7 are pressed by webs 23, 24 at the base 18 and at the underside of the cap 7 in serpentine shape, thus ensuring that the metal cable is relieved of any appreciable tension. A cable bushing can follow this and prevent any bending of the bunch of cables where they are taken out of the housing 1 (not shown). Fig. 2 shows the cap 7 with one of its ducts 8 and the detent lugs 9a, 9b. Relatively sharp-edged pins 11 will be seen on the output side, in a staggered arrangement on the inner walls of the duct 8, and said pins engage in the sheath of the cable inserted in the duct 8 in order thus to relieve the cable of tension without damaging it. Shoulders 14 are also provided on the duct inlet 12 in order to clip the beam waveguide cable in on assembly. Radiused thickenings are provided at the duct outlet 13 and act as anti-bending means. Fig. 3 is a right-hand side elevation of the plug connector shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that a slot 16 divides the right-hand end of the cap in Fig. 2 into two limbs 17, 18, on the outer ends of which each of the detent lugs 9a are disposed. The limbs thus become resilient so that the detent lugs can engage in correspondingly narrow grooves in the housing 1 and snap into corresponding seatings. The radiused shoulder 19 serves as a handle for pressing in the cap 7 and stabilises the spring action of the limbs 17, 18. Fig. 4 is an end plan view of the cap 7. The limbs 17, 18 will again be seen, together with the detent lugs 9a and the ducts 8 with beam waveguide cables 5 clamped between shoulders 14 by means of the pins 11. The ducts 8 are of U-shaped construction, the two openings of the U-shaped ducts each pointing to right and left and the two ducts 8 being connected by a web 20 in their bottom zone. Fig. 5 is a partial section and end elevation of the plug connector housing 1 with the cap 7 fitted. The U-shaped channel 6 will be seen partially in cross-section, and contains eight metal cables 21 in two layers each of four cables on the base of the U-shaped channel 6. The channel 6 is closed by the cap 7, which at the same time guides the metal cables 21 by its transverse webs 22 into the recess between the transverse web 22 and the base of the channel 6 serpentine-fashion, so that the metal cables are relieved of tension. The ducts 7 in the cap 7 each contain a beam waveguide cable 5. The ducts 8 are closed by the side walls of the U-shaped channel 6. The beam waveguide plugs 4 will be seen at the bottom end of the housing. The beam waveguide cables 5 and the metal cables 21 can be combined at the output side of the plug connector housing to form a composite cable and be interconnected by a common cover. An anti-bend bushing (not shown) can also be fitted in known manner at the end face of the U-shaped channel 6 and the cap 7. The plug connector housing according to the invention combines two completely different tension relief means adapted to the specific requirements of the different cables and such means are both non-damaging and efficient, in the minimum space, any bending or curving of the beam waveguide cable with too small a radius of curvature, and the resulting attenuation losses, being reliably avoided. Advantageously, the cap is so constructed that the beam waveguide plug can move axially to allow for any tolerances. This ensures that the beam waveguide plugs always bear with light pressure on the opto-electronic components, so that again low attenuation is achieved. The bed waveguide cable additionally has anti-bending means in the cap. It is a simple matter to fit the cap, and this can be done without difficulty even in restricted space conditions. If the flat spring contacts have to be handled, it is possible to separate the beam waveguide cables 5 together with the cap 7 without it being necessary to remove the cables from the cap. This also reduces any risk of damage in the event of repair or installation work. The general design of the plug connector housing is robust and reliable.

Claims: A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector with an angled cable outlet, comprising: a housing (1) in which optical fiber plugs (4) and flat spring contacts are disposed in a front side of the housing in open chambers (2, 3) while an outlet for the metal cables (21) is provided in a rear side, opposite to the front side, of the housing; and a cap which fits into the rear side of the housing characterized in that the housing outlet for the metal cables comprises a channel (6) which opens towards the rear side of the housing, and whose base extends at an angle of not more than 90° to the plug axis, whereby the metal cables (21) can be taken out of the rear of the housing (1) in one or more layers on the channel base (6) in a direction perpendicular to the plug axis and, in that said cap (7), is constructed to snap fit into the rear side of the housing, thereby closing the channel (6) at the rear side of the housing and said cap has ducts (8) located on opposite sides of a portion of the cap that projects into the channel whereby the optical fibers (5) can be accommodated in the ducts (8), which each extend along a curved path thereby ensuring that the optical fibers (5) are bend through a radius which is non-damaging to the optical fibers. A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the ducts (8) receive the optical fiber cables (5) directly at the rear side of the housing, the configuration of the ducts allowing axial movement of optical fiber plugs (4). A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cap (7) has a portion extending parallel to its snap-in direction having a slot (16) which divides its end facing the plugs into two limbs (17, 18), on each of the outsides of which are respectively disposed at least one detent lug (9a) which is adapted to engage in corresponding grooves in the housing (1). A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that staggered sharp-edged retaining pins (11) project from the duct inner walls (8) in the region of the outlet end of the ducts (8) for engagement with the cable sheath (5) and a radiused constriction (15) is provided at the outlet to prevent. Sharp bending of the cable leaving the duct. A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ducts (8) each have an U-shaped cross-section and the ducts get progressively narrower at the output end to clamp the beam waveguide cables (5). A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable outlet end of the cap (7) has a transverse web (22) by means of which the metal cables (21) are pressed on to the base of the U-shaped channel (6) when the cap is snap fitted into the housing. A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a strain relief boot is provided for the optical fiber cables (5) and the metal cables (21) at the outlet of the channel (6) and the cap (7). A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection between the housing (1) and cap (7) is by means of a snap-in connection means situated substantially on the axis of the beam waveguide plugs. A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (6) is resilient in the region of the tension relief elements and the limbs (17, 18) are resilient in the region of the optical fiber plug (4). A combined optical fiber and metal cable plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap (7) has resilient shoulders in the region of abutment of the optical fiber plug (4) in order to clamp the optical fiber cable in place on assembly.

Inventors: HITZ JUERGEN, MAY GUNTRAM, HITZ, JUERGEN, MAY, GUNTRAM, Hitz, Jürgen
Applicants: FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INT, FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INTERNATIONAL
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G02B6
IPC codes: G02B6, H01R13