Patent ID: 7970284

Claim:
An optical and electric signals transmission apparatus comprising: a receptacle for optical and electric signals transmission which accommodates and holds at least any one of an optical transmitting device including a light-emitting element and an optical receiving device including a light-receiving element and a signal processing circuit processing a signal from the light-receiving element, and has an electrical connecting terminal; a plug for optical and electric signals transmission which has an electrical connecting terminal to be connected to the electrical connecting terminal of the receptacle and is adapted to be inserted in the receptacle to establish electrical coupling with the receptacle and/or optical coupling with at least any one of the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element and perform optical and electric signals transmission with the receptacle; an electric signal transmission line, an end of which is connected with the electrical connecting terminal of the plug; and an optical signal transmission line, an end portion of which is mounted to the plug, wherein the receptacle has a fitting recess in which the plug is to be fitted when inserted in the receptacle from a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the light-emitting element or the light-receiving element; wherein when the plug is fitted in the fitting recess of the receptacle, the optical coupling, the electrical coupling, and engagement of the receptacle with the plug are established at a location where the fitting recess and the plug are adjacent to each other; and wherein one-way or two-way optical communication and one-way or two-way electrical communication are performed between the receptacle and the plug fitted in the fitting recess.