Method of assembling optical connector, optical connector and hybrid connector

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cutouts have a width equal to an outer diameter of said cylindrical portions.

Claim 4

An optical connector comprising: a light emitting module having a first molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light emitting element embedded in said first molded portion and first leads extending out of said first molded portion; a light receiving module having a second molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light receiving element embedded in said second molded portion and second leads extending out of said second molded portion; two sleeves of cylindrical shape, each having a core and a cladding extending along a center axis thereof; a casing having two module receiving sections for receiving said respective first and second-molded portions directly or through respective first and second module casings fitted over said first and second molded portions; and a housing having a receiving section for receiving said sleeves and said casing, wherein said first and second molded portions or said first and second module casings are provided, at positions corresponding to said light emitting and light receiving elements, with respective cylindrical portions for receiving said sleeves, and said casing has cutouts formed in a wall thereof defining said module receiving sections for guiding said cylindrical portions so as to set said light emitting module and said light receiving module in position.

Claim 5

An optical connector comprising: a light emitting module having a first molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light emitting element embedded in said first molded portion and first leads extending out of said first molded portion; a light receiving module having a second molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light receiving element embedded in said second molded portion and second leads extending out of said second molded portion; two sleeves of cylindrical shape, each having a core and a cladding extending along a center axis thereof; a casing having two module receiving sections for receiving said respective first and second-molded portions directly or through respective first and second module casings fitted over said first and second molded portions; and a housing having a receiving section for receiving said sleeves and said casing, wherein said first and second molded portions or said first and second module casings are provided, at positions corresponding to said light emitting and light receiving elements, with respective cylindrical portions for receiving said sleeves, and said casing has cutouts formed in a wall thereof defining said module receiving sections for guiding said cylindrical portions so as to set said light emitting module and said light receiving module in position.

Claim 6

The optical connector according to claim 3 , wherein said cutouts have a width equal to an outer diameter of said cylindrical portions.

Claim 7

The optical connector according to claim 3 , wherein said casing is formed of electrically conductive material.

Claim 8

A hybrid connector comprising an optical connector as recited in claim 3 , and an electrical connector having an electrical housing with a mount section for mounting said optical connector and terminals inserted into said electrical housing.

Claim 9

A light emitting and light receiving modules positioning method for an optical connector including a light emitting module and a light receiving module, said light emitting module having a first molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light emitting element embedded in said first molded portion and first leads extending out of said first molded portion, said light receiving module having a second molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light receiving element embedded in said second molded portion and second leads extending out of said second molded portion, comprising the steps of: placing said light emitting module and said light receiving module directly or indirectly into respective module receiving sections formed in a casing so as to set said first and second molded portions in position relative to each other; and then mounting said casing in an optical housing while restricting tilting of said first and second molded portions in a rotational direction about an optical axis of said optical connector so as to set said first and second leads in position, wherein said first and second molded portions are directly or indirectly provided, at positions corresponding to said light emitting and light receiving elements, with respective cylindrical portions for receiving a sleeve with a core and a cladding, and wherein said stop of placing said light emitting module and said light receiving module into said respective module receiving sections and said step of restricting tilting of said first and second molded portions are effected trough said cylindrical portions, and further wherein said step of placing said light emitting module and said light receiving module into said respective module receiving sections comprises guiding said cylindrical portions in respective cutouts formed at said module receiving sections so as to set said first and second molded portions in position relative to each other.

Claim 10

A light emitting and light receiving modules positioning method for an optical connector including a light emitting module and a light receiving module, said light emitting module having a first molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light emitting element embedded in said first molded portion and first leads extending out of said first molded portion, said light receiving module having a second molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light receiving element embedded in said second molded portion and second leads extending out of said second molded portion, comprising the steps of: placing said light emitting module and said light receiving module directly or indirectly into respective module receiving sections formed in a casing so as to set said first and second molded portions in position relative to each other; and then mounting said casing in an optical housing while restricting tilting of said first and second molded portions in a rotational direction about an optical axis of said optical connector so as to set said first and second leads in position, wherein said first and second molded portions are directly or indirectly provided, at positions corresponding to said light emitting and light receiving elements, with respective cylindrical portions for receiving a sleeve with a core and a cladding, and wherein said stop of placing said light emitting module and said light receiving module into said respective module receiving sections and said step of restricting tilting of said first and second molded portions are effected trough said cylindrical portions, and further wherein said step of placing said light emitting module and said light receiving module into said respective module receiving sections comprises guiding said cylindrical portions in respective cutouts formed at said module receiving sections so as to set said first and second molded portions in position relative to each other.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 7 , wherein said cutouts have a width equal to an outer diameter of said cylindrical portions.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 7 , wherein said step of restricting tilting of said first and second molded portions so as to set said first and second leads in position comprises bringing into contact with each other flat surfaces formed on said cylindrical portions and in said optical housing.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 7 , wherein said cylindrical portions are of such an inner diameter as to snugly receive said sleeves.

Claim 14

An optical connector comprising: a light emitting module having a first molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light emitting element embedded in said first molded portion and first leads extending out of said first molded portion; a light receiving module having a second molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light receiving element embedded in said second molded portion and second leads extending out of said second molded portion; two sleeves of cylindrical shape, each having a core and a cladding extending along a center axis thereof; a casing having two module receiving sections for receiving said respective first and second molded portions directly or through respective first and second module casings fitted over said first and second molded portions; and a housing having a receiving section for receiving said sleeves and said casing, wherein said first and second molded portions or said first and second module casings are provided, at positions corresponding to said light emitting and light receiving elements, with respective cylindrical portions for receiving said sleeves, said cylindrical portions have a flat surface formed thereon, said casing has cutouts formed in a wall thereof defining said module receiving sections for guiding said cylindrical portions so as to set said light emitting module and said light receiving module in position, and said housing has a flat surface formed in said module receiving sections, which corresponds to said flat surface on said cylindrical portions.

Claim 15

An optical connector comprising: a light emitting module having a first molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light emitting element embedded in said first molded portion and first leads extending out of said first molded portion; a light receiving module having a second molded portion of transparent synthetic resin, a light receiving element embedded in said second molded portion and second leads extending out of said second molded portion; two sleeves of cylindrical shape, each having a core and a cladding extending along a center axis thereof; a casing having two module receiving sections for receiving said respective first and second molded portions directly or through respective first and second module casings fitted over said first and second molded portions; and a housing having a receiving section for receiving said sleeves and said casing, wherein said first and second molded portions or said first and second module casings are provided, at positions corresponding to said light emitting and light receiving elements, with respective cylindrical portions for receiving said sleeves, said cylindrical portions have a flat surface formed thereon, said casing has cutouts formed in a wall thereof defining said module receiving sections for guiding said cylindrical portions so as to set said light emitting module and said light receiving module in position, and said housing has a flat surface formed in said module receiving sections, which corresponds to said flat surface on said cylindrical portions.

Claim 16

The optical connector according to claim 11 , wherein said cutouts have a width equal to an outer diameter of said cylindrical portions.

Claim 17

The optical connector according to claim 11 , wherein said casing is formed of electrically conductive material.

Claim 18

The optical connector according to claim 11 , wherein said cylindrical portions are of such an inner diameter as to snugly receive said sleeves.

Claim 19

A hybrid connector comprising an optical connector as recited in claim 11 , and an electrical connector having an electrical housing with a mount section for mounting said optical connector and terminals inserted into said electrical housing.