1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector, more particularly to connectors having an optical module for transmitting optical data.
2. Description of Related Art
At present, Universal Serial BUS (USB) is a widely used input/output interface adapted for many electronic devices, such as personal computer and related peripherals. In 1994, Intel, HP, IBM, NEC etc. together founded USB-IF to define a spec of USB. Nowadays, USB-IF has published several editions for USB, and transmitting rate of USB has becomes higher and higher. As development of electronic industry, higher transmitting rate of USB based connection accessory is needed.
An optical universal serial bus (OUSB) has been disclosed to be adopted for optical data transmission. The OUSB includes a USB connector with a number of lenses embedded in the USB connector and further connected with respective fibers for transmitting optical signal. Therefore, the OUSB can transmit signals up to 10 Gbps. However, as the lens are fixed to the USB connector, and they may fail to mate with counterparts if excessive clearance exits in manufacturing process.
Hence, an improved connector with an optical module assembled thereto is desired to overcome the above problems.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a connector having a chamber for insertion of a plug comprises: an optical module having lenses exposed to the chamber for transmitting optical data; and an insulative housing having a receiving slot located behind the chamber and communicating with the chamber for receiving the optical module, and a top wall for covering the receiving slot. The top wall has a plurality of openings passing therethrough for exposing key side edges of the receiving slot to exterior.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector having a chamber for insertion of a plug comprises an insulative housing having a base portion, a tongue plate extending forwardly into the chamber, and a receiving slot formed in the base portion and located above the tongue plate, the receiving slot being surrounded by a top wall, a bottom wall opposite to the top wall and a pair of side walls at two lateral sides thereof, the receiving slot having side edges formed at the side walls, the top wall having a plurality of openings passing therethrough for exposing key points of the side edges to exterior so that the side edges are identified by a profile projector or other optical measurement tools conveniently; an optical module received in the receiving slot and having lenses exposed to the chamber for transmitting optical data; a plurality contacts disposed on an upper surface of the tongue plate for mating with the plug; and a metal shell shielding the insulative housing.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
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The second insulative housing 2 includes a main portion 21 retained in the retaining slot 116, and a second protruding portion 22 extending forwardly from the main portion 21 and retained in the receiving space 121. The main portion 21 has a set of securing slots 211 arranged in a front and back surfaces thereof and extending along a height direction of the connector 100. The second protruding portion 22 has a set of passageways 221 arranged in an upper and lower surface thereof and extending along a front-to-back direction. The first contacts 31 include stiff first contacting portions 311 extending forwardly beyond the second protruding portion 22 and received in the corresponding grooves 122, first connecting portions 312 extending downwardly and backwardly from the first contacting portions 311 and along a horizontal plan for being received in the passageways 221 on the lower surface of the second protruding portion 22, first retaining portions 313 bending downwardly from back ends of the first connecting portions 312 and retained in the securing slots 211 on the front surface of the main portion 21, and first tail portions 314 extending downwardly from the corresponding first retaining portions 313 for being mounted on the PCB. The second contacts 32 include resilient second contacting portions 321 retained in the passageways 221 on the upper surface of the second protruding portion 22 and protruding upwardly beyond the upper surface, second retaining portions 323 extending backwardly from back ends of the corresponding second contacting portions 321 for being retained in the corresponding passageways 221 and bending downwardly for being retained in the corresponding securing slots 211, and second tail portions 324 extending downwardly from lower ends of the second retaining portions 323 for being mounted on the PCB. The second contacting portions 321 extend downwardly beyond the first contacting portions 311 and are located behind the first contacting portions 311. The first and second contacts 31, 32 are assembled to the second insulative housing 2 together to form as a contact module for being assembled to the first insulative housing 1. The first insulative housing 1 and the second insulative housing 2 are assembled together to form an insulative housing. The first protruding portion 12 and the second protruding portion 22 are coupled together to form a tongue plate protruding into the chamber 101 for mating with a corresponding plug. In another embodiment, the first insulative housing 1 and the second insulative housing 2 could be integrally formed as the insulative housing, the first contacts 31 could be insert molded into the insulative housing.
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It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of number, shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200910303377.3 | Jun 2009 | CN | national |