US 7,510,336 B2
Plug-socket connector apparatus for optical fiber termination
Takako Sakaji, Tsu (Japan); Yutaka Abe, Taki-gun (Japan); and Shunsuke Hashimoto, Tsu (Japan)
Assigned to Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Kadoma-shi (Japan)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/905,245.
Claims priority of application No. 2006-271142 (JP), filed on Oct. 02, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2008/0260334 A1, Oct. 23, 2008
Int. Cl. G02B 6/42 (2006.01); G02B 6/43 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 385—88  [385/89; 385/90] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Plug-socket connector apparatus for optical fiber termination, comprising:
a plug fixed at one end of an optical fiber cable enclosing an optical fiber;
a socket configured to be mechanically connected with the plug, said socket having a cavity of which bottom faces the end face of the optical fiber projected from the end of the optical fiber cable when mechanically connected with the plug; and
a photoelectric converter including an optical element located on the bottom of the cavity, said converter being provided for the socket;
wherein the plug is a single ferrule plug comprising:
a plug-base having a hole into which the end of the optical fiber cable is inserted, said plug-base fixing the end inserted into the hole;
a circular plug-tip having a pinhole into which the optical fiber projected from the end of the optical fiber cable is inserted; and
at least one latch formed on one part of the side face of the plug-tip;
wherein the socket further comprises:
terminals that are located on the bottom face of the socket and are electrically connected with the converter, said terminals being electrically connected with lands of a printed circuit board, respectively when the socket is mounted on the board;
a bore located at one side of the socket, said bore coming in contact with the remaining part of the side face of the plug-tip so that the plug can rotate around the pinhole when the plug is mechanically connected with the socket; and
a retainer that retains said at least one latch so as to prevent the plug-tip from falling out of the bore and to restrict a rotation angle of the plug around the pinhole within a predetermined rotation angle range, when the plug-tip is plugged in the bore.