Patent ID: 7637671

Claim:
An optical connector for establishing multimedia-connections in a motor vehicle, the optical connector comprising: a dielectric connector housing, the dielectric connector housing forming a receptacle for a mating connection with a complementary connector, the receptacle of the dielectric connector housing being formed by sidewalls and a rear wall of the dielectric connector housing, the rear wall having openings therein; at least one optical connection element arranged in the receptacle, each optical connection element including an optical fiber section for mating connection with a complementary optical connection element of the complementary connector; at least one electro-optical component arranged on a rear side of the rear wall opposite to the receptacle, each electro-optical component including electronic circuits; and ESD protection means, the EDS protection means comprising: at least one discharge section projecting towards the receptacle and having a free end being exposed to the interior of the receptacle to provide an ESD protection within the receptacle; and at least one electrically conductive discharge finger penetrating the rear wall through the opening and terminating in the discharge section; wherein said the discharge section is arranged in the vicinity of the optical connection element in such a way that the discharge finger forms a lightning arrester for protection of the optical connection; and wherein the optical connector includes an external electrical shielding which penetrates the connector housing.