EP3408897A1

EP3408897A1 - Connector

Info

Publication number: EP3408897A1
Application number: EP16804740.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthias Koch
Original assignee: Neutrik AG
Current assignee: Neutrik AG
Priority date: 2016-01-25
Filing date: 2016-11-25
Publication date: 2018-12-05
Also published as: WO2017129289A1; JP2019504363A; CN108475874A; US20190004261A1; DE102016101255A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (1) comprising a connector housing (2), a connector insert part (3), and a light guide carrier (4) on the connector side, wherein a mating connector (5) for establishing an optical connection to the connector (1) can be combined with the connector (1) in a combining direction (13), wherein a free end (7) of a connector-side light guide (6) leads into a contact surface (8) of the connector-side light guide carrier (4), wherein the connector insert part (3) can be detachably fixed in the connector housing (2) by means of a detachable and reconnectable connecting device (9), and the connector insert part (3) has a first recess (10) for detachable and reconnectable fixing of the connector-side light guide carrier (4) on the connector insert part (3) and a second recess (11) for detachable and reconnectable fixing of a light guide carrier (12) of the mating connector (5) on the connector insert part (3), and the connector insert part (3) and the connector-side light guide carrier (4) fixed on the first recess (10) of the connector insert part (3) can be removed together from the connector housing (2) counter to the combining direction (13).

Description

Interconnects

The present invention relates to a connector, in particular a

A female connector, comprising a connector housing and a connector insert part and a connector side optical fiber carrier, wherein a mating connector for making an optical connection with the connector in a Zusammengerichtung with the connector is merge, wherein at the connector side optical fiber at least one connector-side optical fiber of the connector is fixed and an open end ( 7) of the connector-side optical fiber opens into a contact surface of the connector-side optical fiber carrier. Connectors of the above type are used to cables having at least one optical fiber for data transmission, with another cable or with a device such. As a television or film camera o. The like., To connect. For the data transmission to function across such connectors over connector and mating connectors, the open ends of the fibers in the connector must be kept very clean and, if necessary, cleaned. These are in connectors according to the prior art

Additional tools necessary to clean the open ends of the connector-side optical fibers within the connector. The object of the invention is to improve connectors of the type mentioned above in that the open end of the connector-side light guide can be cleaned easier and better.

For this purpose, the invention proposes in connectors of the type mentioned above, that the connector insert part by means of a detachable and reconnectable

Connecting means releasably fastened in the connector housing and the connector insert part is a first receptacle for detachable and reconnectable Fastening the connector-side optical fiber carrier on the connector insert part and a second receptacle for releasably and reconnectable attachment of a light guide carrier of the mating connector on the connector insert part and the connector insert part and attached to the first receptacle of the connector insert part connector side photoconductor together against the

Merging direction are removable from the connector housing.

The invention thus makes it possible to remove the connector insert part together with the connector-side optical fiber carrier attached thereto from the connector housing. As a result, the open end of the connector-side optical fiber outside the connector housing and thereby much easier and

be cleaned thoroughly. Special tools can usually be dispensed with. Above all, does not remain from the contact surface of the

Connector-side optical fiber carrier removed dirt in the connector, as is usually at least partially the case in the prior art. Especially preferred

Embodiments of the invention provide in this context that the connector-side optical fiber carrier in one of the connector housing

removed position of the first receptacle of the connector insert part is detachable and can be refastened to the first receptacle of the connector insert part. In these variants, the connector-side optical fiber carrier can then be detached from the connector insert part, after he has worked together with the

Connector insert part has been removed from the connector housing. As a result, the contact surface of the connector-side optical fiber carrier, in which the open end of the connector-side optical waveguide to be cleaned is located, is particularly accessible for the cleaning process. It is particularly favorable if, in the position removed from the connector housing, the open end of the connector-side optical fiber can be freely accessible in the contact surface of the connector-side optical fiber carrier detached from the first receptacle of the connector insert part and / or outside the connector housing. Not to forget is, as stated above, that the connector side

Optical fiber is still attached to the fiber optic carrier. The light guide should therefore be so long that the light guide carrier fastened to it can be removed from the connector housing together with the connector insert part according to the invention. It is beneficial in this context if the light guide for this, the necessary freedom of movement and the necessary space is provided so that it can be pushed out correspondingly far out of the connector and in this again, without kinking or being damaged. In the claims and also the above statements are the most

Components in singular called. This is a purely linguistic simplification and does not exclude that individual components of the connector according to the invention are also present in a number greater than one in the sense of at least one or more. This applies in particular to the number of connector-side optical fibers, which are fastened to the connector-side optical fiber carrier and open with their open ends in the contact surface of the connector-side optical fiber carrier. Most connectors in the connector according to the invention several fiber-side fiber on

be fastened connector-side optical fiber carrier and open with their open ends in said contact surface of the connector-side optical fiber carrier.

In addition, however, connectors according to the invention may of course also be provided with more than one connector insert part and with more than one connector side part

Fiber optic support etc. be equipped. The open end of a light guide is the end through which light can exit the light guide and light can enter the light guide. The open end (s) of the light guides in the contact surface may be equipped with or without lenses or other means for optically focusing or scattering light. The light guide is an optically conductive fiber, which is usually surrounded by a jacket apart from the open end. Fiber optic and sheath together result in the prior art known per se

Optical fiber cables. The light guides can therefore z. B. glass fibers o. The like. Exist. The term "optical connection" used above is a connection intended for optical data transmission.

A connector as well as a mating connector is generally speaking means for establishing a connection between at least two cables or at least one cable and one device. The cables have one or more optical fibers in the present case. But you can also include electrical cables for data or power transmission with. The concept of the mating connector has been introduced in order to distinguish between connectors and mating connectors. The mating connector is a corresponding other connector, the connector and the connector

Mating connector or other connector in the Zusammenführrichtung so

be merged together or connected to each other, that the optical connection and optionally also the electrical connection is made. Both the connector according to the invention and the mating connector can be a so-called chassis socket, which could also be referred to as a device socket. Chassis sockets are known per se. They are those connectors which are attached to devices or their housings. However, both the connector according to the invention and the mating connector can also be designed as a so-called cable connector. Cable connectors are the connectors that are attached to the above cable. In order to connect two cables with each other, cable connectors are attached to the two cables to be connected to each other. To connect a cable to a device or its housing, a chassis jack is attached to the device and a cable connector is attached to the cable. In general, the connectors could also be referred to as plugs.

When merging connector and mating connector could then speak of a mating. However, the connector according to the invention and also the mating connectors corresponding therewith can be connected to one another not only by being plugged into each other but also by screwing together or other types of connections or combinations thereof. The detachable and reconnectable connection device with which the

Connector insert part can be releasably secured in the connector housing, is a connecting device, which is provided and designed so that the connection made by means of her compound can be repeatedly solved and restored. It is thus in particular a non-destructive way of loosening and reconnecting. Most preferably, the releasable and reconnectable connection means for releasably securing the connector insert part in the connector housing is a per se known one

Bayonet lock. It is a compound in which the parts to be joined are inserted into each other and twisted in the opposite direction to each other to be connected to each other. The release is done by turning and pulling in the appropriate

opposite directions. Alternatively, in the invention, however, other known detachable and re-connectable connection means for fixing the

Connector insert part can be realized on the connector housing. As an example, screw closures or secure plug-in connections should be mentioned. Secured connectors are those in which the connector can only be released again when a corresponding fuse is released. Either

Screw caps as well as secured connectors are known per se in the prior art in a variety of embodiments.

Both the connector-side optical fiber carrier and the optical fiber carrier of the mating connector are conveniently fastened in preferred embodiments by means of a respective snap closure on the connector insert part. In this sense, preferred embodiments of the invention thus provide that the first receptacle for releasably and reconnectable attachment of the connector-side optical fiber carrier on the connector insert part has a snap closure and / or the second receptacle for releasable and reconnectable

Attaching a light guide carrier of the mating connector on the connector insert part has a snap closure. In order to bring the open ends of the optical fibers in the connector-side optical fiber carrier on the one hand and the optical fiber carrier of the mating connector on the other hand in position relative to each other so that the optical transmission works in the desired form, preferred embodiments see inventive

Connector before that the first receptacle and the second receptacle are arranged in or on a connecting channel of the connector insert part for receiving the connector-side optical fiber carrier and the optical fiber carrier of the mating connector. In the connection channel, the connector-side optical fiber carrier and the optical fiber carrier of the mating connector can be arranged opposite each other and corresponding to each other so that the desired optical data transmission in the desired high quality works properly.

Particularly preferred embodiments of connectors according to the invention are chassis bushings. Especially with such

Embodiments are conveniently provided that the connector housing a mounting means for securing the connector housing to a

Housing a device has. The mounting device may be a screw connection or a mounting flange or the like. In particular, in the case of a mounting flange this can be shaped differently or

be designed. It may have one or more mounting holes.

As already explained above, the cables which are to be connected to one another by means of inventive connectors or connected to a device may also have electrical lines for electrical data and / or power transmission. From power transmission one speaks for example if the electrical

Lines of power or voltage supply of the device are used. In this connection, it may be provided in connectors according to the invention that the connector insert part additionally has at least one electrical contact.

Connectors according to the invention, whether designed as a chassis socket or as a cable connector, can be used for a wide range of optical tasks Data transmission or optical connection are used. A

However, particularly preferred form provides that the connector according to the invention is used as a chassis socket for film and / or television cameras. In this case, at least one or more electrical contacts in the connector are then preferably provided in addition to the optical fiber carrier with its optical fibers, so that both optical and electrical data transmissions and the

Power supply of the camera can be realized via connector according to the invention. A method for cleaning connectors according to the invention provides that the connector insert part and the connector-side optical waveguide carrier fastened to the first receptacle of the connector insert part act together against the connector insert

Merging direction are removed from the connector housing.

Conveniently, the connector-side optical fiber carrier is then released from the first receptacle of the connector insert part. The cleaning of the contact surface of the connector-side optical fiber carrier can then be made particularly simple. Further details of such methods will be apparent from the features of the connector of the invention and its preferred embodiments. In addition to the connector according to the invention per se, the invention also relates to an assembly with a connector according to the invention and a tool, wherein the tool is releasably secured in the connector housing on the connector insert part and the tool releasably and reconnectable with the tool and the connector insert part on the tool together with the The first receptacle of the connector insert part fixed connector-side photoconductor carrier against the Zusammenführrichtung removable from the connector housing and in the direction of merging into the connector housing is reinserted. In other words, the tool can thus be secured within the connector housing on the connector insert part, which then by means of the tool

Loosened connection device and the connector insert part hanging on the tool together with the connector-side optical fiber carrier against the

Feed direction is removed from the connector housing. A special simple embodiment provides that the tool on the second receptacle of the connector insert part is releasably fastened.

Further features and details of preferred embodiments of the

The invention will be explained in the following description of the figures with reference to an embodiment of a connector according to the invention. Show it:

1 to 3 different views of the connector housing and the

Connector insert part of a connector according to the invention;

Fig. 4 to 6 different representations of the connector according to the invention this embodiment including tools, wherein the connector insert part is removed from the connector housing.

7 is an exploded view of the various components of

inventive connector of this embodiment and

Fig. 8 shows the connector according to the invention of this embodiment, which with a mating connector for producing an optical connection

is merged.

Fig. 1 shows the connector 1 according to the invention, which is designed here as a chassis socket. Inventive connector 1 of this type can, for. As can be arranged on film and / or television cameras to exchange data with this camera via appropriate optical and electrical signals and to provide power to the camera can. In Figs. 1 to 3, only the connector housing 2 and the connector insert part 3 are shown. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector insert part is fastened in the connector housing 2 by means of the releasable and reconnectable connection device 9, which is embodied here as a bayonet closure. In Fig. 3, the connector insert part 3 against the Zusammenführrichtung 13 from the

Connector housing 2 shown removed. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view. FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a longitudinal section.

The merging direction 13 is the direction in which a in Fig. 8 mated connector 5 is brought together for the preparation of the optical connection with the connector 1, or inserted into this.

In the perspective view of FIG. 1, one can look into the open end of the connector housing 2. One sees in the connector insert part 3, the connecting channel 15 with the second receptacle 1 1, by means of, as shown in more detail in Fig. 8, a in the

Connecting channel 15 pushed in light guide carrier 12 of the mating connector 5 can be attached to the connector insert part 3. This attachment takes place in the embodiment shown on the equipped with undercuts, designed as a spring tongues snap fasteners 14th

Outside of the connector housing 2 is a mounting device 16 in the form of a mounting flange with mounting holes 17. By means of the mounting flange and the mounting holes 17, the connector housing 2 and thus the connector 1 according to the invention in a conventional manner to a

Housing a corresponding device, such. B. also a photo and / or movie camera are attached.

In the longitudinal section according to FIG. 2, the connector insert part 3 is, as stated, in the position connected to the connector housing 2. The detachable and re-connectable connecting device 9 used for this purpose is designed as a bayonet lock. On the one hand, it has the pins 20 on

Connector insert part 3 and on the other hand, the pin receptacles 30 am

Connector housing 2 on. The pins 20 and the pin receptacles 30 are designed in a manner known per se so that the connector insert part 3 is pushed from the position shown in FIG. 3 in the joining direction 13 in the connector housing 2 and the connection then by rotating about an axis which is parallel to Merging 13 is, can be closed. The release of this connecting device 9 is then carried out by turning the

Connector insert part 3 relative to the connector housing 2 in the opposite Direction and by appropriate extraction of the connector insert part 3 from the connector housing 2 against the Zusammenführrichtung 13. in Figs. 2 and 3 are also sealing rings 23 can be seen, which may be carried out known per se as in the prior art. For manufacturing reasons, the housing ring 24, which here carries the pin receivers 30, be executed as a first separate and then attached to the remaining connector housing 2 part. The housing ring 24 is in this embodiment in any case part of the connector housing. 2

In addition, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first receptacle 10 with their

Snap locks 14 to see. The first receptacle 10 serves the detachable

The first receptacle 10 for the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 and the second receptacle 1 1 for the optical fiber carrier 12 of the mating connector 5 are arranged on opposite sides of the connecting channel 15 of the connector insert part 3.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the connector insert part 3 is respectively from the

Connector housing 2 shown removed against the Zusammenführrichtung 13. 4 and 5, the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 is fixed to the first receptacle 10 of the connector insert part 3. The connector-side electrical leads 21 are connected to the electrical contacts 18 of the

Connector insert part 3 connected. The electrical leads 21 are passed through the connector housing 2 together with the connector-side optical fibers 6 connected together here as a cable band. Both the connector-side optical fibers 6 and the electrical leads 21 are designed so long that the connector insert part 3 can be pulled out correspondingly far against the Zusammenführrichtung 13 from the connector housing 2, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 also. In Fig. 4 can be seen at a glance in the

Connecting channel 15 into the contact surface 8 of the connector side

Lichtleiterträgers 4 with the there arranged in a row open ends 7 of The number of open ends 7 it can be seen that this is a plurality of connector-side optical fibers 6, which are attached to the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 and summarized. In Fig. 6, the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 is detached from the connector insert part 3. As a result, the contact surface 8 of the connector insert part 3 is freely accessible, so that the contact surface 8 with the open ends 7 of

Connector-side light guide 6 outside the connector housing 2 can be cleaned very easily and thoroughly. 4, 5 and 6, the tool 19 is shown. It carries in this embodiment, an adapter 22, with which the tool 19 in

Connecting channel 15 of the connector insert part 3 on the second receptacle 1 1 by means of the snap closures 14 can be fixed so that here as

Bajonettverschluss executed connecting device 9 can be solved by means of the tool 19 and then hanging on the tool 19

Connector insert part 3 together with it or at its first receptacle 10 fastened connector-side optical fiber carrier 3 can be pulled out of the connector housing 2, resulting in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 results. In this position, the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 can then be removed in order to make the cleaning of the contact surface 8 of the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 particularly easy. The subsequent assembly of the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 on the connector insert part 3 is carried out by a re-insertion of the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 in the

Connecting channel 15, whereby the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 is then secured by the first receptacle 10 back to the connector insert part 3.

Subsequently, the connector insert part 3 with the attached thereto

connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 by means of the attached to the second receptacle 1 1 tool 19 again in the direction of merging 13 in the

Inserted connector housing 2. By rotating the connector insert part 3 together with the connector-side optical waveguide 4 about an axis of rotation parallel to the

Merging direction 13, the pins 20 of the connecting device 9 are then screwed back into the pin receptacles 30 of the connecting device 9, so that this connecting device 9 is closed again and the connector insert part 3 then together with connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 in

Connector housing 2 is attached. Subsequently, the tool 19 can be withdrawn against the Zusammenführrichtung 13 by releasing the snap fasteners 14 of the second receptacle 1 1 again from the connector insert part 3.

Fig. 7 shows the already described components of the connector 1 according to the invention in an exploded view. Here is particularly good to see that

Connector insert part 3 a total of four electrical contacts 18 has. It can z. B. two of them for electrical data transmission and the other two to power the device, such. B. a camera o. The like. Are used.

FIG. 8 now shows a longitudinal section, like a corresponding one

Mating connector 5 in the joining direction 13 with the connector 1 according to the invention, as has been described so far, brought together and connected to it. The mating connector 5 is designed here as a cable connector, at the rear end of which guided through the cable grommet 29 cable 28 is attached. The opening into the mating connector 5 electrical lines 27 and light guide 25 of the mating connector 5 are guided in the cable 28, which is not shown here in detail.

In the section of FIG. 8 is on the one hand good to see how the electrical

Contacts 18 of the connector insert part 3 of the connector 1 according to the invention with the electrical contacts 26 of the mating connector 5 are plugged together and connected thereto. On the other hand, it is also easy to see how the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 and the optical fiber carrier 12 of the mating connector 5 in

Connection channel 15 are arranged opposite one another so that the open ends 7 of the connector-side light guide 6 are arranged in alignment with corresponding, not shown in detail open ends of the light guide 25 of the mating connector 5, so that the optical data transmission from the connector-side light guides 6 to the light guides 25 of the mating connector 5 and works well in the opposite direction. For this purpose, the connector-side optical fiber carrier 4 and the optical fiber carrier 1 2 of the mating connector 5 in the connecting channel 25 optimally aligned with each other. In addition, for centering the connection-side optical fiber carrier 4 and the optical fiber carrier 12 of the mating connector 5 also centering pins 31 are used, as can be seen in Figs. 4 and 6. These engage in the merged position shown in Fig. 8 in corresponding, not shown here in detail, Zentrierstiftaufnahmen in the other or corresponding optical fiber carrier 4 or 12 a.

Legend

to the reference numbers:

1 connector 16 ontageeinrichtung

2 connector housing 20 17 mounting hole

3 connector insert part 18 electrical contact

19 tool

4 connector-side optical fiber carrier

20 cones

5 mating connectors

21 electrical line

6 connection-side optical fiber

25 22 adapters

7 open end

23 sealing ring

8 contact surface

24 housing ring

9 connection device 25 light guide

10 first receptacle 26 electrical contact

1 1 second receptacle 30 27 electrical line

12 fiber optic cables 28 cables

13 Mating direction 29 Cable grommet

14 Snap closure 30 Spigot receptacle

15 Connecting channel 31 Centering pin

Claims

claims

1 . A connector (1), in particular a chassis socket, with a connector housing (2) and a connector insert part (3) and a connector side

Optical waveguide (4), wherein a mating connector (5) for making an optical connection with the connector (1) in a Zusammenführrichtung (1 3) with the connector (1) is merge, wherein at the connector side optical fiber carrier (4) at least one connector side optical fiber ( 6) of the

Connector (1) is fixed and an open end (7) of the connector-side light guide (6) in a contact surface (8) of the connector-side optical fiber support (4) opens, characterized in that the connector insert part (3) by means of a detachable and reconnectable connection means (9 ) releasably in the connector housing (2) is fastened and the Verbindereinsatzteii (3) has a first receptacle (10) for releasably and reconnectable attachment of the connector side light guide carrier (4) on Verbindereinsatzteii (3) and a second receptacle (1 1) for releasable and reconnectable Fastening a light guide carrier (12) of the mating connector (5) to the connector insert part (3) and the connector insert part (3) and the connector-side light conductor carrier (4) fastened to the first receptacle (10) of the connector insert part (3) together against the mating direction (13) from the

Connector housing (2) are removable.

2. Connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the

connector-side optical fiber carrier (4) in a position taken out of the connector housing (2) from the first receptacle (10) of the

Connector insert part (3) is detachable and on the first receptacle (10) of the connector insert part (3) is refastenable.

3. Connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the position taken out of the connector housing (2), the open end (7) of the connector-side light guide (6) in the contact surface (8) of the first recording ( 10) of the connector insert part (3) dissolved connector side

Fiber optic carrier (4) freely accessible and / or outside the

Connector housing (2) can be arranged or is.

4. The connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the releasable and reconnectable connection means (9) with which the connector insert part (3) releasably in the connector housing (2) can be fastened, a bayonet closure and / or a Screw and / or a secure connector is.

5 connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first receptacle (10) for releasably and reconnect attachment of the connector-side optical fiber support (4) on the connector insert part (3) a

Snap closure (14) and / or the second receptacle (1 1) for releasably and reconnect attachment of a light guide carrier (12) of the mating connector (5) on the connector insert part (3) has a snap closure (14).

6. Connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first receptacle (10) and the second receptacle (1 1) in or on a

Connecting channel (15) of the connector insert part (3) for receiving the connector-side optical fiber carrier (4) and the light guide carrier (12) of the mating connector (5) are arranged.

7. Connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connector housing (2) has a mounting device (16) for fastening the connector housing (2) on a housing of a device.

8. Connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connector insert part (3) additionally has at least one electrical contact (18).

9. Arrangement with a connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and a tool (19), wherein the tool (19) in the connector housing (2) on the connector insert part (3) is detachably fastened and with the tool (19) the Connecting device (9) is detachable and reconnectable and the

Connector insert part (3) on the tool (19) together with the at the first receptacle (10) of the connector insert part (3) fixed connector side optical fiber carrier (4) against the Zusammenführrichtung (1 3) from the

Connector housing (2) removable and in the direction of merging (13) in the connector housing (2) is reinserted.

10. Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the tool (19) on the second receptacle (1 1) of the connector insert part (3) is releasably fastened.