GB2110410A - An electric socket outlet with optic fibre connector - Google Patents
An electric socket outlet with optic fibre connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2110410A GB2110410A GB08227598A GB8227598A GB2110410A GB 2110410 A GB2110410 A GB 2110410A GB 08227598 A GB08227598 A GB 08227598A GB 8227598 A GB8227598 A GB 8227598A GB 2110410 A GB2110410 A GB 2110410A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- socket
- electric
- pin
- sleeve
- optical
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 6
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 32
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910001092 metal group alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000010453 quartz Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon dioxide Inorganic materials O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012777 electrically insulating material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
- G02B6/3817—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres containing optical and electrical conductors
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
In an electric socket outlet one socket contact 3 has, associated with the socket contact, an optical fibre F which is constrained to lie within, and substantially parallel to the axis of, the socket contact, where it aligns with a similar fibre in a plug contact 16. The electric socket outlet is particularly suitable for both electrically and optically connecting visual display units and mini-computers to an electrical supply source and a light emitting device. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
An improved electric socket outlet
This invention relates to electric socket outlets of the kind comprising at least two socket contacts to which an electric plug having at least two pins protruding from the plug body can be electrically connected and it is especially, but not exclusively, concerned with electric socket outlets of this kind for use in domestic and similar wiring systems.
The use in domestic, industrial another premises of visual display units, mini-computers and other equipment requiring both electrical and optical connections to an electrical supply source and a light emitting device is increasing year by year and the provision of simple and inexpensive electric and optical connectors for effecting such connections is highly desirable.
In the Specification of our co-pending Patent
Application No. 8227597 filed on the same day as the present application, there is described and claimed an improved electric plug comprising at least two pins which protrude from the plug body, wherein at least one of the pins of the plug has at least one throughbore extending along its length and wherein a separate optical fibre or an optical bundle as hereinafter defined is housed in said throughbore, is fixed with respect to the pin over at least a part of the length of the fibre or bundle adjacent the free end of the pin, and is connected to, or adapted to be connected to, or is integral with, an optical fibre or an optical bundle of a flexible electric cable extending into the plug body.
By the expression "optical bundle" is meant a group of optical fibres or a group of fibres including at least one optical fibre and at least one non-optical reinforcing fibre or other reinforcing elongate member.
It is an object of the present invention to provide, for use with an improved electric plug in accordance with the aforesaid co-pending patent application, an improved electric socket outlet which, when said electric plug is connected thereto, will provide both an effective electrical connection and an optical fibre or bundle joint of satisfactory light transfer efficiency.
According to the invention, in an electric socket outlet having at least two socket contacts for reception of two pins of an electric plug, at least one of the socket contacts has, associated with the socket contact, at least one optical fibre or optical bundle as hereinbefore defined which is constrained to lie within, and substantially parallel to the axis of, the socket contact.
Preferably, the socket contact or each of the socket contacts having at least one associated optical fibre or optical bundle comprises a circumferentially continuous or discontinuous sleeve of metal or metal alloy of high electrical conductivity and, slidably mounted in the sleeve, a tubular pin which is urged by an associated spring in a direction towards one open end of the sleeve and in which at least one optical fibre or optical bundle protruding from the pin in the opposite direction is so embedded in encapsulating material that the part of the fibre or bundle within the pin lies substantially parallel to the axis of the sleeve.
One contact surface, or each of at least two contact surfaces, of the sleeve of the socket contact preferably has a groove or rib extending substantially parallel to the axis of the sleeve for engagement with a rib or groove on the outer surface of the associated spring-loaded tubular pin and with a rib or groove on an outer surface of a pin of an electric plug, thereby to prevent substantial transverse movement of the tubular pin and of the plug pin with respect to the socket contact.Where the socket contact is to receive a plug pin of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section, preferably the sleeve of the socket contact is of substantially U-shaped transverse cross-section and has a longitudina!ly extending groove or rib on the inner surface of each of the oppositely disposed side walls of the sleeve; in this case, the associated spring-loaded tubular pin will also be of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section and will have a rib or groove extending along the outer surface of each of its major side walls.
The extreme end face of the or each optical fibre or optical bundle in the spring-loaded tubular pin of the or each socket contact of the electric socket outlet may be substantially flush with the open end face of the tubular pin in which it is encapsulated or, to reduce risk of damage to the end face of the or each optical fibre or optical bundle, the extreme end face of the or each optical fibre or optical bundle may be spaced from the free end of the pin.In the latter case, losses due to damage, contamination and misalignment of optical fibres or optical bundles can be reduced by incorporating in the spring-loaded tubular pin of the or each socket contact, at the optical interface with an associated pin of an electric plug, an optical element which reduces the risk of damage to the end of the or each optical fibre or bundle and/or enlarges the light beam or changes its angle of divergence. Suitable optical elements include quartz windows and lenses.
Where, as is preferred, the improved electric plug in accordance with our aforesaid co-pending patent application is a three pin 1 3A plug and the earth pin of the plug has at least one throughbore in which is housed an optical fibre or optical bundle, the improved electric socket outlet will have three socket contacts, the earth socket contact being the socket contact having at least one optical fibre or optical bundle constrained to lie within, and substantially parallel to the axis of, the socket contact.
The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of a preferred 1 3A electric socket outlet for reception of a 1 3A three pin electric plug in accordance with our aforesaid co-pending patent application, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front view of the electric socket outlet;
Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the earth socket contact of the socket outlet with the earth pin of a 1 3A three pin electric plug connected thereto;
Figure 3 is a side view of the earth socket contact looking in the direction of the arrow A in
Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a transverse cross-section of the earth socket contact taken on the line lV-IV in
Figure 2.
Referring to the drawings, the improved electric socket outlet comprises a front plate 1 of electrically insulating material having two line socket contacts 2 and an earth socket contact 3, each of substantially rectangular transverse crosssection, and a switch 4.
The front plate has two holes 5 through which fixing screws (not shown) can be screwed to secure the front plate of the electric socket outlet to a supporting surface.
Each of the line socket contacts 2 is of conventional form for receiving a plug pin of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section.
The earth socket contact 3 comprises a sleeve 7 which is made of a metal of high electrical
conductivity and which is of substantially U
shaped transverse cross-section. The inner
surface of each of the two oppositely disposed
side walls of the sleeve 7 has a longitudinally
extending groove 8. Slidably mounted in the sleeve 7 is a tubular pin 9 which is made of a
metal of high electrical conductivity and which is of substantially rectangular transverse cross
section. The tubular pin 9 has extending along
each of its major side walls a rib 10 which
engages in one of the grooves 8 in a side wall of the sleeve 7, thereby preventing substantial
transverse movement of the tubular pin with
respect to the sleeve. The tubular pin 9 is urged
towards one open end 11 of the sleeve 7 by a coil
spring 12 which is secured to the base plate (not
shown) of the electric socket outlet.The tubular
pin 9 is filled with an encapsulating material 14 in
which are embedded two optical fibres F which
protrude from the end of the tubular pin remote
from the open end 11 of the sleeve 7 and which,
within the tubular pin, extend substantially
parallel to the axis of the sleeve. The end faces of
the optical fibres F are substantially flush with the
end face of the tubular pin 9 nearer the open end 11 of the sleeve 7.
When an electric plug 1 5 in accordance with
the aforesaid co-pending patent application and
having an earth pin 1 6 housing two optical fibres
and having ribs 1 7 along opposed side faces is
inserted into the socket outlet, the earth pin
engages in the sleeve 7 of the earth socket
contact 3 and abuts the spring-loaded tubular pin
9 of the earth socket contact with the optical
fibres of the earth pin in substantial alignment
with the optical fibres F of the spring loaded
tubular pin, thereby providing both an effective electrical connection and an optical fibre joint of satisfactory light transfer efficiency.
Claims (9)
1. An electric socket outlet having at least two socket contacts for reception of two pins of an electric plug, wherein at least one of the socket contacts has, associated with the socket contact, at least one optical fibre or optical bundle as hereinbefore defined which is constrained to lie within, and substantially parallel to the axis of, the socket contact.
2. An electric socket outlet having at least two socket contacts for reception of two pins of an electric plug, wherein at least one of the socket contacts comprises a circumferentially continuous or discontinuous sleeve of metal or metal alloy of high electrical conductivity and, slidably mounted in the sleeve, a tubular pin which is urged by an associated spring in a direction towards one open end of the sleeve and in which at least one optical fibre or optical bundle protruding from the pin in the opposite direction is so embedded in encapsulating material that the part of the fibre or bundle within the pin lies substantially parallel to the axis of the sleeve.
3. An electric socket outlet as claimed in Claim 2, wherein at least one contact surface of the sleeve of the socket contact has a groove or rib extending substantially parallel to the axis of the sleeve for engagement with a rib or groove on the outer surface of the associated spring-loaded tubular pin and with a rib or groove on an outer surface of a pin of an electric plug.
4. An electric socket outlet as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the sleeve of the socket contact is of substantially U-shaped transverse cross-section and has a longitudinally extending groove or rib on the inner surface of each of the oppositely disposed side-loaded walls of the sleeve and the
associated spring-loaded tubular pin is of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section and has rib or groove extending along the outer surface of each of its major side walls.
5. An electric socket outlet as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the extreme end face of the or each optical fibre or optical bundle in the spring-loaded tubular pin of the or each socket contact is substantially flush with the open end face of the tubular pin in which it is encapsulated.
6. An electric socket outlet as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the extreme end face of the or each optical fibre or optical bundle in the spring-loaded tubular pin of the or each socket contact is spaced from the free end of the pin and is optically connected to an optical element secured in said end of the tubular pin.
7. An electric socket outlet as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the optical element is a quartz window or lens.
8. An electric socket outlet as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, which socket outlet has three socket contacts, the earth socket contact being the socket contact having at least one optical fibre or optical bundle constrained to lie within, and substantially parallel to the axis of, the socket contact.
9. An electric socket outlet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08227598A GB2110410B (en) | 1981-09-28 | 1982-09-28 | An electric socket outlet with optic fibre connector |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8129229 | 1981-09-28 | ||
| GB08227598A GB2110410B (en) | 1981-09-28 | 1982-09-28 | An electric socket outlet with optic fibre connector |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2110410A true GB2110410A (en) | 1983-06-15 |
| GB2110410B GB2110410B (en) | 1985-03-20 |
Family
ID=26280823
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08227598A Expired GB2110410B (en) | 1981-09-28 | 1982-09-28 | An electric socket outlet with optic fibre connector |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2110410B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1988010440A1 (en) * | 1987-06-19 | 1988-12-29 | Amp Incorporated | Opto-electrical connector |
| US4869566A (en) * | 1986-05-28 | 1989-09-26 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Optical fiber and electrical plug/jack interconnection device |
| WO1996035133A1 (en) * | 1995-05-06 | 1996-11-07 | Gebr. Merten Gmbh & Co. Kg | Electrical plug device |
-
1982
- 1982-09-28 GB GB08227598A patent/GB2110410B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4869566A (en) * | 1986-05-28 | 1989-09-26 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Optical fiber and electrical plug/jack interconnection device |
| WO1988010440A1 (en) * | 1987-06-19 | 1988-12-29 | Amp Incorporated | Opto-electrical connector |
| WO1996035133A1 (en) * | 1995-05-06 | 1996-11-07 | Gebr. Merten Gmbh & Co. Kg | Electrical plug device |
| US6071015A (en) * | 1995-05-06 | 2000-06-06 | Gebr. Merten Gmbh & Co. Kg | Electrical plug device including optical plug and socket connectors, terminal clamps connecting to electric mains, and an electronic bus coupler |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2110410B (en) | 1985-03-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19930928 |