CONNECTOR FOR SIMULTANEOUS AND MUTUAL CONNECTION OF ELECTRIC CONTACT AND OPTICAL FIBER

摘要

A connector concurrently connects electrical conductors and optical fibers terminated in the connector to electrical conductors and optical fibers respectively terminated in an array of electrical contacts and optical fiber connecting elements, such as in a similar connector. The connector includes a housing having a mating end with electrical contacts supported in the housing and exposed at the mating end. An optical fiber is clamped within the housing and a fiber encompassing member extends from the clamp toward the mating end of the housing for abutment with fiber connection elements of the connecting array. The clamp and the fiber encompassing member are mounted within the housing for retractive movement in a direction away from the mating end relative to the electrical contacts of the connector. Upon the mating engagement of the connector with the array of electrical contacts and optical fiber connecting elements, the clamp and the fiber encompassing member cooperate to gauge the connections between an optical fiber held by the clamp and another optical fiber of the array independently of the connection between the electrical contacts of the connector and mating electrical contacts of the array.