Patent ID: 7160032

Claim:
An electro-optical composite connector for connecting first and second cables, said first cable incorporating a first power line and a first optical fiber, and said second cable incorporating a second power line and a second optical fiber, said connector comprising: an electro-optical composite plug having a power connecting device comprising a conductive material that connects the first power line to supply power, and a first signal converter for converting an optical signal transmitted through the first optical fiber to an electric signal flowing into the conductive material of the power connecting device and for converting an electric signal transmitted through the conductive material of the power connecting device to an optical signal flowing into the first optical fiber; and an electro-optical composite receptacle having a receiver comprising a conductive material that connects to the second power line for receiving and releasing said conductive material of the power connecting device of the electro-optical composite plug for transmitting power between the first and second power lines, and a second signal converter for converting an optical signal transmitted through the second optical fiber to an electric signal flowing into the conductive material of the receiver and for converting an electric signal transmitted through the conductive material of the receiver to an optical signal flowing into the second optical fiber.