Electro-optical connector with hot electrical contact protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018602-A1
Application number	US-201414334792-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 18, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cable connector, including a housing having a base and a lip, which surrounds the base and defines an aperture configured to receive a mating plug. The cable connector also includes a plurality of electrical contacts enclosed by the housing and configured to convey electrical signals, the electrical contacts having respective first proximal and first distal ends, the first proximal ends being implanted in the base so that the first distal ends are recessed within the aperture at a first distance from the base. The cable connector additionally includes one or more optical fiber terminals containing end portions of respective optical fibers configured to convey optical signals and having respective second proximal and second distal ends, the second proximal ends being implanted in the base so that the second distal ends are recessed within the aperture at a second distance from the base, which is greater than the first distance.

First claim

1 . A cable connector, comprising:
a housing comprising a base and a lip, which surrounds the base and defines an aperture configured to receive a mating plug; a plurality of electrical contacts enclosed by the housing and configured to convey electrical signals, the electrical contacts having respective first proximal and first distal ends, the first proximal ends being implanted in the base so that the first distal ends are recessed within the aperture at a first distance from the base; and one or more optical fiber terminals containing end portions of respective optical fibers configured to convey optical signals and having respective second proximal and second distal ends, the second proximal ends being implanted in the base so that the second distal ends are recessed within the aperture at a second distance from the base, which is greater than the first distance.

2 . The cable connector according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical signals are selected from a list consisting of radio frequency (RF) energy and sensor measurements.

3 . The cable connector according to claim 1 , wherein the optical signals are selected from a list consisting of optical radiation and data.

4 . The cable connector according to claim 1 , wherein the housing and the one or more optical fiber terminals comprise a non-conductive material.

5 . The cable connector according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical fiber terminals comprise a conductive material which is grounded.

6 . The cable connector according to claim 1 , and comprising one or more structures protruding from the base, and wherein each of the one or more optical fiber terminals is contained within a corresponding structure.

7 . The cable connector according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical fiber terminals comprise one or more male optical fiber terminals, and wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprise female contact sockets, and comprising a mating plug configured for insertion into the housing, the mating plug comprising a corresponding male contact pin for each of the plurality of female contact sockets, and a corresponding female optical fiber terminal for each of the one or more male optical fiber terminals.

8 . The cable connector according to claim 7 , wherein a combination of a given male optical fiber terminal and the corresponding female plug optical fiber terminal comprises an optical fiber connector selected from a list consisting of a ferrule connector, a biconical connector, an expanded beam connector and a multi-fiber connector.

9 . A method for forming a connector, comprising:
providing a housing comprising a base and a lip, which surrounds the base and defines an aperture configured to receive a mating plug; enclosing a plurality of electrical contacts within the housing; configuring the plurality of electrical contacts to convey electrical signals, the electrical contacts having respective first proximal and first distal ends; implanting the first proximal ends in the base so that the first distal ends are recessed within the aperture at a first distance from the base; enclosing, within the housing, one or more optical fiber terminals containing end portions of respective optical fibers; configuring the one or more optical fiber terminals to convey optical signals, the one or more optical fiber terminals having respective second proximal and second distal ends; and implanting the second proximal ends in the base so that the second distal ends are recessed within the aperture at a second distance from the base, which is greater than the first distance.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the electrical signals are selected from a list consisting of radio frequency (RF) energy and sensor measurements.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the optical signals are selected from a list consisting of optical radiation and data.

12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the housing and the one or more optical fiber terminals comprise a non-conductive material.

13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more optical fiber terminals comprise a conductive material which is grounded.

14 . The method according to claim 9 , and comprising protruding one or more structures from the base, wherein each of the one or more optical fiber terminals is contained within a corresponding structure.

15 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more optical fiber terminals comprises one or more male optical fiber terminals, and wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprise female contact sockets, and comprising configuring a mating plug for insertion into the housing, the mating plug comprising a corresponding male contact pin for each of the plurality of female contact sockets, and a corresponding female optical fiber terminal for each of the one or more male optical fiber terminals.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein a given male optical fiber terminal and the corresponding female optical fiber terminal comprises an optical fiber connector selected from a list consisting of a ferrule connector, a biconical connector, an expanded beam connector and a multi-fiber connector.

Assignees

• Biosense Webster Israel Ltd

Inventors

• Govari Assaf
• Beeckler Christopher Thomas

Classifications

• G02B6/3826

  characterised by form or shape · CPC title

• G02B6/3878

  comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means · CPC title

• H01R13/516

  Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing {, hoods} · CPC title

• A61B18/1492

  having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2018/00178

  Electrical connectors · CPC title