Cable with connector

Abstract

To provide a cable with a connector that is compact and manufactured at low cost.SOLUTION: A cable with a connector is formed of a cable formed of a composite cable consisting of an optical cable and an electric wire, and photoelectric conversion connectors disposed on both ends of the cable and each including a photoelectric conversion part converting an optical signal from the optical cable into an electric signal. The photoelectric conversion connector includes: a cable fixing part formed at one edge on a side of the composite cable, and fixing an end of the composite cable; a branch part formed as a groove part in the cable fixing part, and branching the optical cable and the electric wire of the composite cable; a fixing block part fixing the optical cable; an optical cable positioning part formed as a concave groove-like fitting part between the branch part and the photoelectric conversion part, and accommodating and fixing the fixing block part; and a connection terminal part formed at the other edge of a connector housing, and connecting the electric signal obtained through the conversion performed by the photoelectric conversion part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable with a connector having a connector attached to an end portion, and particularly to a compact and low-cost cable with a connector.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the progress of the robot industry, demand for cables that can be used in industrial robots has been increasing.

[0003] An industrial robot (manipulator) has a motor in its joint portion, and realizes extension and bending operations via the joint portion through a combination of components each configured by a motor, an amplifier, and a controller. For example, as a cable (encoder cable) connecting the amplifier and the motor, electrical communication is performed using a dedicated electric wire (metal), so that the industrial robot operates.

[0004] However, electrical communication using electric wires has a drawback of being vulnerable to externally applied noise during communication. In this regard, an optical cable is relatively resistant to noise during communication.

[0005] Here, Active Optical Cables (AOC) are known, which are capable of performing communication using optical cables and at the same time performing electrical communication in the same format as conventional electric wires.

[0006] Active Optical Cables (AOC) are commercially available as cables with a connector in which an optical cable and a connector are of an integrated structure. By disposing a photoelectric conversion unit in the connector, there is an advantage that communication can be performed by optical signals, the signals are converted into electric signals at both ends of the connector, and the AOC can be handled in the same manner as a conventional electric cable. In general, an adhesive is used for fixing the optical cable and the connector (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0007] Because these connector-equipped cables are compatible with the RS485 standard, which enables half-duplex communication using differential signals, there is a high demand for them for communication between industrial equipment, including industrial robots, and various improved versions have been developed.

[0008] Conventional cables with connectors include those designed to facilitate wiring, such as an optical connector that is detachably connected to an optical cable having a first optical coupling member having a cylindrical holding member, a lens housed in a housing formed on one end of the holding member, and an optical cable held on the other end of the holding member, and comprising a second optical coupling member having the same configuration as the first optical coupling member, a positioning unit that positions the second optical coupling member and guides the first optical coupling member to a predetermined position on the second optical coupling member in accordance with the connection operation of the optical connector, an optical-electrical conversion unit connected to the second optical coupling member that converts an optical signal or an electrical signal into an electrical signal or an optical signal, and an input / output unit connected to the optical-electrical conversion unit that performs input and output of electrical signals (see Patent Document 2).

[0009] Furthermore, conventional cables with connectors also aim to miniaturize the connectors, for example, an integrally formed plastic optical port having at least a front and a back, the front having an opening for receiving the end of an optical cable, a plurality of conductive lead wires, each having a proximal end enclosed in the plastic optical port and a distal end extending from the back of the plastic optical port, at least one optoelectronic device fixed to the proximal end of one of the lead wires and enclosed in the plastic optical port, and the lead A connector cable is known that includes at least one integrated circuit (IC) chip fixed to the proximal end of one of the lead wires and enclosed in the plastic optical port, and at least first and second conductive bond wires, wherein the first bond wire interconnects the optoelectronic device and the IC chip, and the second bond wire interconnects at least one of the optoelectronic device and the IC chip with one or more of the lead wires, and the first and second bond wires are enclosed in the plastic optical port (for example, Patent Document 3).

[0010] Furthermore, conventional cables with connectors also aim to miniaturize the connectors, as described above. For example, a cable with a first connector connected to one device and a cable with a second connector connected to the other device are provided. The first cable with a connector has a first connection connector at one end of a first optical-electric composite cable comprising an optical cable and an electric wire, and a first relay connector at the other end. The first connection connector is provided with a first connection-side photoelectric conversion unit that converts an electrical differential signal from the one device into an optical signal and sends it to the optical cable of the first optical-electric composite cable. The first relay connector is provided with an electrical single-ended optical signal from the first optical-electric composite cable. A cable with a connector is known in which a first relay-side photoelectric conversion unit is provided to convert to an end signal, and the cable with the second connector is provided with a second relay connector at one end of a second optical-electric composite cable comprising an optical cable and an electric wire, which is electrically connectable to the first relay connector, and a second connection connector at the other end which is connected to the other device, the second relay connector is provided with a second relay-side photoelectric conversion unit that converts the single-ended signal from the first relay connector into an optical signal and sends it to the optical cable of the second optical-electric composite cable, and the second connection connector is provided with a second connection-side photoelectric conversion unit that converts the optical signal from the second optical-electric composite cable into an electrically differential signal. (For example, Patent Document 4) [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-061168 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-071432 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-011890 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-112905 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] However, conventional cables with connectors, as shown in Patent Document 1 above, fix the optical cable with resins such as epoxy or adhesives. This requires advanced skills and know-how in handling solvents and other materials, and the curing and drying process takes time, which reduces productivity.

[0013] Furthermore, as described in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 2 to 4, a separate external power supply is required to provide power to the substrate on which the photoelectric conversion element is mounted, which contributes to the enlargement and complexity of the connector.

[0014] This invention was made to solve the aforementioned problems and aims to provide a compact and low-cost cable with a connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The connector-equipped cable disclosed herein comprises a cable composed of a composite cable consisting of an optical cable and an electric wire, and a photoelectric conversion connector disposed at both ends of the cable and equipped with a photoelectric conversion unit that converts an optical signal from the optical cable into an electrical signal, wherein the photoelectric conversion connector comprises a cable fixing portion formed on the edge of the connector housing of the photoelectric conversion connector for fixing the end of the composite cable, a branching portion formed adjacent to the cable fixing portion as a groove for branching the optical cable and the electric wire of the composite cable, a fixing block portion for fixing the optical cable branched by the branching portion, an optical cable positioning portion formed as a recessed groove-shaped fitting portion between the branching portion and the photoelectric conversion unit for housing and fixing the fixing block portion, and a connection terminal portion for electrically connecting the electrical signal converted by the photoelectric conversion unit.

[0016] Thus, the cable with a connector disclosed in this application includes a cable fixing portion formed on the edge of the connector housing of the photoelectric conversion connector for fixing the end of the composite cable, a branching portion formed adjacent to the cable fixing portion as a groove for branching the optical cable and electric wire of the composite cable, a fixing block portion for fixing the optical cable branched by the branching portion, an optical cable positioning portion formed as a recessed groove fitting portion between the branching portion and the photoelectric conversion portion for housing and fixing the fixing block portion, and a connection terminal portion for electrically connecting the electrical signal converted by the photoelectric conversion portion. As such, by simply housing and fixing the fixing block portion for fixing the optical cable branched by the branching portion in the optical cable positioning portion, the optical cable is fixed and the positioning for connection with the photoelectric conversion portion is simultaneously achieved. This allows for sufficient fixing to prevent the optical cable from coming loose by simple fitting without the use of adhesives, facilitates alignment of the optical cable and the photoelectric conversion portion, and enables simplified and highly efficient work.

[0017] The connector-equipped cable disclosed herein includes, if necessary, a power supply unit that supplies power from the connection terminal to the photoelectric conversion unit, and the photoelectric conversion connector is powered by the connection terminal or the wire. Thus, the connector-equipped cable disclosed herein includes a power supply unit that supplies power from the connection terminal to the photoelectric conversion unit, and the photoelectric conversion connector is powered by the connection terminal or the wire. As a result, the power necessary to drive the substrate of the photoelectric conversion unit can be secured inside the connector housing regardless of the connected object, eliminating the need for an external power supply (e.g., an AC adapter), and enabling simplification and cost reduction of the connector-equipped cable.

[0018] The connector-equipped cable disclosed herein is such that, if necessary, the fixing block portion fixes the optical cable in accordance with the arrangement position of the photoelectric conversion element of the photoelectric conversion unit, and the optical cable positioning portion is formed in a form that conforms to the external dimensions of the fixing block portion. In this way, the connector-equipped cable disclosed herein is such that the fixing block portion fixes the optical cable in accordance with the arrangement position of the photoelectric conversion element of the photoelectric conversion unit, and the optical cable positioning portion is formed in a form that conforms to the external dimensions of the fixing block portion. As a result, the optical cable is fixed and its position to the photoelectric conversion element is determined by a single step of fitting the fixing block portion into the optical cable positioning portion. With only a simple fitting, the alignment and fixing of the optical cable and the photoelectric conversion unit can be performed more accurately and efficiently without the use of adhesives, thereby simplifying the work and increasing efficiency.

[0019] The connector-equipped cable disclosed herein allows the wires branched at the branching section to bypass the photoelectric conversion section and connect to the connection terminal at the other end, as needed. In this way, the connector-equipped cable disclosed herein allows the wires branched at the branching section to bypass the photoelectric conversion section and connect to the connection terminal at the other end, so that the arrangement of the wires does not need to be considered, and the optical cable can be efficiently fixed in just one step by fitting the fixing block into the optical cable positioning section, without using adhesives or the like. This simple fitting process simplifies the work and increases efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the configuration of a cable with a connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the cable configuration of a composite cable (optical metal composite cable) with a connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]The explanatory diagram of the storage and fixation of the fixing block portion by the optical cable positioning portion of the cable with a connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 4] The cross-sectional view of the storage and fixation of the fixing block portion by the optical cable positioning portion of the cable with a connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 5] The explanatory diagram showing a connection example of the cable with a connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 6] An example (amplifier side) of the configuration block diagram of the FPGA constituting the photoelectric conversion unit of the cable with a connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 7] An example (motor side) of the configuration block diagram of the FPGA constituting the photoelectric conversion unit of the cable with a connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 8] The configuration diagram of the cable with a connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 9] The configuration diagram of the fixing block portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 10] The fixing method of the cable with a connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 11] The explanatory diagram of the cable with a connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention in a state where the interior is opened is shown. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0021] (First Embodiment) The connector-equipped cable according to the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, is a cable-equipped cable comprising a cable 1 composed of a composite cable 13 consisting of an optical cable 11 and an electric wire 12, and a photoelectric conversion connector 2 disposed at both ends of the cable 1 and equipped with a photoelectric conversion unit 21 that converts the optical signal from the optical cable 11 into an electrical signal, wherein the photoelectric conversion connector 2 has a cable fixing part 22 formed on one end edge (side A) on the composite cable 13 side of the connector housing of the photoelectric conversion connector 2 that fixes the end of the composite cable 13 The connector comprises: a branching section 23 formed adjacent to the cable fixing section 22 as a groove, which branches the optical cable 11 and the electric wire 12 of the composite cable 13; a fixing block section 24 for fixing the optical cable 11 branched by the branching section 23; an optical cable positioning section 25 formed as a recessed groove fitting section between the branching section 23 and the photoelectric conversion section 21, which houses and fixes the fixing block section 24; and a connection terminal section 26 formed on the other end edge side (side B) of the connector housing for electrically connecting the electrical signals converted by the photoelectric conversion section 21.

[0022] Furthermore, although not particularly essential, it is preferable to provide a power supply unit 27 that supplies power from the connection terminal 26 to the photoelectric conversion unit 21, as shown in Figure 1, so that the photoelectric conversion connector 2 can be powered by the connection terminal 26 or the wire 12. For example, if the photoelectric conversion connector 2 is connected to the amplifier side of an industrial robot, the photoelectric conversion connector can be powered by the connection terminal 26 connected to the amplifier. Also, for example, if the photoelectric conversion connector 2 is connected to the motor side of an industrial robot, the photoelectric conversion connector can be powered by the wire 12. This makes it possible to secure the power supply necessary to drive the circuit board of the photoelectric conversion unit 21 inside the connector housing, eliminating the need for an external power supply (e.g., an AC adapter), and enabling simplification and cost reduction of the connector-equipped cable.

[0023] While there are no particular limitations on the optical cable 11, it is preferable to use a plastic optical fiber (POF). A plastic optical fiber (POF) is an optical cable 11 in which plastic is used for both the core and cladding. By using plastic, it offers excellent flexibility and can be manufactured at a lower cost than when glass fiber is used.

[0024] Compared to using conventional twisted-pair electric wires 12 (metal) for differential communication, using optical cable 11 improves noise immunity, widens bandwidth, and eliminates the need for shielding. Furthermore, eliminating shielding allows for thinner and lighter cables. Since electric wires 12 (metal) are not used as communication lines, impedance control of the communication lines, which was previously required, becomes unnecessary.

[0025] The electric wire 12 is not particularly limited, but stranded copper wire can be used.

[0026] The cable configuration of the composite cable 13 (optical-metal composite cable 13), which consists of an optical cable 11 and an electric wire 12, is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in Figure 2, a configuration can be used in which six cores, consisting of four electric wires 12 (metal) held in an intervening 16 and two optical cables 11, are covered with a sheath 14 via a retaining tape 15. The four electric wires 12 (metal) can be used for power, ground, and battery power / location memory. While the four electric wires 12 are not particularly limited, for example, a configuration can be used in which power is supplied to the photoelectric conversion unit 21 using two electric wires for power and ground, and two electric wires for battery power / location memory are used. In addition, as long as the optical cable 11 and electric wires 12 are included, the wiring configuration and number of wires are not particularly limited.

[0027] This photoelectric conversion connector 2 is a connector located at both ends of the cable 1 and includes a photoelectric conversion unit 21. This photoelectric conversion unit 21 has a circuit board terminal and converts the optical signal propagating through the optical cable 11 into an electrical signal using a photoelectric conversion element 21a. A commercially available product can be used for this photoelectric conversion element 21a.

[0028] This connection terminal section 26 includes a serial interface communication terminal section 26a that inputs and outputs electrical signals for communication as optical signals via the optical cable 11, and a power supply terminal section 26b for connecting wires used for power supply from, for example, an amplifier for an industrial robot or for power supply on the wire side 12.

[0029] The aforementioned power supply unit 27 can be configured by supplying power to the circuit board terminals of the photoelectric conversion unit 21 from the power supply terminal section 26b of the connection terminal section 26, which is connected to the electric wires 12 that make up the composite cable 13.

[0030] This cable fixing portion 22 is formed on one end edge (side A) of the connector housing of the photoelectric conversion connector 2 on the side of the composite cable 13, and has a cylindrical shape that follows the outer circumference of the cable, for example, to fix the composite cable 13.

[0031] This branch section 23, through the space formed by its groove shape, can stably maintain and fix the optical cable 11 and the electric wire 12 housed within the sheath 14 of the composite cable 13 in a separated state. By being adjacent to the cable fixing section 22, this branch section 23 can stabilize the somewhat unstable state of cable fixing when the optical cable 11 and the electric wire 12 are separated.

[0032] This fixed block section 24 secures the optical cable 11, which is one of the cables branched by this branching section 23. This securing facilitates and stabilizes the connection between the optical cable 11 and the photoelectric conversion unit 21.

[0033] This optical cable positioning section 25 is formed as a groove-shaped fitting section between the branching section 23 and the photoelectric conversion element 21a, and houses and fixes the fixing block section 24.

[0034] The shape of the fixed block portion 24 is not particularly limited, but for example, as shown in Figure 3(a), it is preferable that the optical cable 11 is fixed in a manner corresponding to the arrangement position of the photoelectric conversion element 21a of the photoelectric conversion unit 21, and that the optical cable positioning portion 25 is formed in a manner that conforms to the external dimensions of the fixed block portion 24.

[0035] The external dimensions of this fixed block section 24 refer to the size that constitutes the external shape of this fixed block section 24. For example, if the external shape is a rectangular parallelepiped, then the length, width, and height are the relevant dimensions. To conform to the external dimensions of this fixed block section 24 means that the size and shape are approximately the same as the shape of this fixed block section 24.

[0036] As shown in Figure 3(b), the optical cable positioning section 25 is formed in a shape that conforms to the external dimensions of the fixing block section 24, so that the fixing block section 24 is housed within the space formed by the groove-shaped fitting portion of the optical cable positioning section 25, thereby firmly fixing the end of the optical cable 11 in contact with the photoelectric conversion element 21a.

[0037] In other words, as shown in Figure 4(a), the fixing block portion 24 can have a shape that holds the optical cable 11 from the side at a length b and at an interval c between the optical cables 11. The fixing block portion 24 is housed and fixed within the space of the optical cable positioning portion 25, indicated by the width d in the cross-sectional view, and at the same time, the ends of the optical cables 11 are securely fixed in contact with a position at height a, which is at the center of the photoelectric conversion element 21a.

[0038] By fitting the upper part of the connector 2a, which corresponds to the upper half (top) of the photoelectric conversion connector 2, to the lower part of the connector 2b, which corresponds to the lower half (bottom) of the photoelectric conversion connector 2 shown in Figure 4, a cable with a connector can be easily completed.

[0039] In this way, by simply fitting the fixing block 24 into the optical cable positioning section 25, the optical cable 11 is fixed and its position to the photoelectric conversion element 21a is determined in a single step. This simple fitting method allows for more accurate and efficient alignment and fixing of the optical cable 11 and the photoelectric conversion section 21 without the use of adhesives, thereby simplifying the work and increasing efficiency.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3(b), the wires 12 branched at the branching section 23 are preferably connected to the connection terminal section 26 at the other end (side B) by bypassing the photoelectric conversion section 21. Thus, in the cable with connector disclosed herein, since the wires 12 branched at the branching section 23 are connected to the connection terminal section 26 at the other end by bypassing the photoelectric conversion section 21, the optical cable 11 can be efficiently fixed without using adhesives or the like by simply fitting the fixing block section 24 into the optical cable positioning section 25 in a single step, without having to be aware of the arrangement of the wires 12, thereby simplifying the work and increasing efficiency.

[0041] This connection terminal section 26 is equipped with terminals for inputting and outputting the electrical signals converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 21, and terminals for connecting the electric wires 12 branched from the composite cable 13. This connection terminal section 26 electrically connects the electrical signals converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 21 from the optical cable 11 on one end edge (side A) of the composite cable 13 side of the connector housing to the outside at the other end edge (side B) of the connector housing.

[0042] Regarding this external electrical connection, for example, as shown in Figure 5, the amplifier 300 and motor 400 of the industrial robot can be connected via a connector-equipped cable according to this embodiment. The amplifier-side photoelectric conversion connector 210, which is the photoelectric conversion connector 2 on the amplifier side, and the amplifier 300 are electrically connected by a power line 301 that supplies power and a communication line 302 that sends and receives communication signals. A motor-side cable 401 connects this photoelectric conversion connector 2 to the motor 400. That is, in the connection example in Figure 5, the connector-equipped cable according to this embodiment means that the amplifier-side photoelectric conversion connector 210 connected to the amplifier 300 receives power from the amplifier 300 via the power line 301, and transmits the control information received via the communication line 302 to the motor 400 side via cable 1. The control information transmitted via cable 1 is then transmitted to the motor 400 by the motor-side photoelectric conversion connector 200 connected to the motor 400 via motor-side cable 401.

[0043] The circuit board including this connection terminal section 26 can be implemented, for example, using an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). An FPGA is a device that allows designers to directly program the configuration of logic circuits on-site, and it can flexibly respond to specification changes and has high maintainability.

[0044] For example, in the cable with a connector according to this embodiment, the amplifier-side photoelectric conversion connector 210 connected to the amplifier 300 can construct a circuit block including an FPGA as shown in Figure 6. This amplifier-side photoelectric conversion connector 210 can consist of the amplifier-side photoelectric conversion element 211a, which is the photoelectric conversion element 21a; the amplifier-side cable fixing part 212, which is the cable fixing part 22; the amplifier-side branch part 213, which is the branch part 23; the amplifier-side power supply part 217, which is the power supply part 27; the amplifier-side connection terminal part 216, which is the connection terminal part 26; the amplifier-side communication terminal part 216a, which is the communication terminal part 26a; and the amplifier-side power supply terminal part 216b, which is the power supply terminal part 26b.

[0045] Furthermore, for example, in the cable with connector according to this embodiment, a motor-side photoelectric conversion connector 200 connected to the motor 400 can be configured to construct a circuit block including an FPGA as shown in Figure 7. This motor-side photoelectric conversion connector 200 can consist of the motor-side photoelectric conversion element 201a, which is the photoelectric conversion element 20a; the motor-side cable fixing part 202, which is the cable fixing part 22; the motor-side branch part 203, which is the branch part 23; the motor-side power supply part 207, which is the power supply part 27; the motor-side connection terminal part 206, which is the connection terminal part 26; the motor-side communication terminal part 206a, which is the communication terminal part 26a; and the motor-side power supply terminal part 206b, which is the power supply terminal part 26b. The FPGA can be configured to include dual control functions and switching functions to determine whether communication by optical signals from the optical cable 11 is on the amplifier side or the motor side.

[0046] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the photoelectric conversion unit 21 incorporates photoelectric conversion elements 21a (motor-side photoelectric conversion element 201a, amplifier-side photoelectric conversion element 211a) that convert optical signals communicated via the optical cable 11 into electrical signals. This conversion of optical signals into electrical signals enables communication, for example, from the motor side of an industrial robot to the amplifier side via the optical cable 11 instead of conventional wires.

[0047] The electrical signal converted by the photoelectric conversion element 21a is then controlled by the FPGA to match the communication mode of the electrical signal with the optical communication mode of the optical signal, and transmitted as half-duplex communication via a 485 driver compliant with the RS485 standard from the communication terminal 26a, which acts as a serial interface. From this communication terminal 26a, which acts as a serial interface, electrical signal communication with, for example, an amplifier of an industrial robot is realized.

[0048] In Figures 6 and 7, an example of a connector-equipped cable is shown as an encoder cable connecting an amplifier and a motor in an industrial robot. However, the application is not limited to this, and it can be broadly applied to other applications, such as between an amplifier and a controller in an industrial robot.

[0049] As described above, the cable with connector according to this embodiment includes a photoelectric conversion connector 2 formed on the edge of the connector housing of the photoelectric conversion connector 2, a cable fixing portion 22 for fixing the end of the composite cable 13, a branching portion 23 formed adjacent to the cable fixing portion 22 as a groove for branching the optical cable 11 and the electric wire 12 of the composite cable 13, a fixing block portion 24 for fixing the optical cable 11 branched by the branching portion 23, and an optical cable positioning portion 25 formed between the branching portion 23 and the photoelectric conversion portion 21 as a recessed groove fitting portion for housing and fixing the fixing block portion 24. Since it includes a connection terminal section 26 for electrically connecting the electrical signals converted by the photoelectric conversion section 21, the optical cable 11 is fixed and the connection to the photoelectric conversion section 21 is simultaneously positioned by simply housing and fixing the fixing block section 24, which fixes the optical cable 11 branched by the branch section 23, into the optical cable positioning section 25. This allows for sufficient fixing to prevent the optical cable 11 from coming loose by simply fitting it in, without using adhesives or the like, making it easy to align the optical cable 11 with the photoelectric conversion section 21, thus simplifying the work and increasing efficiency.

[0050] (Second embodiment) The connector-equipped cable according to the second embodiment comprises, similarly to the first embodiment, the cable 1, the photoelectric conversion connector 2, the cable fixing portion 22, the branching portion 23, the fixing block portion 24, the optical cable positioning portion 25, the optical cable positioning portion 25, the connection terminal portion 26, and the power supply portion 27. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, the fixing block portion 24 is configured as an upper and lower fitting structure.

[0051] As shown in Figure 8, the fixing block section 24 can be composed of an upper fixing block section 24a that constitutes the upper half (ceiling side) of the fixing block section 24, and a lower fixing block section 24b that constitutes the lower half (bottom side) of the fixing block section 24. By sandwiching the optical cable 11, which is branched from the branching section 23 of the composite cable 13, between the upper fixing block section 24a and the lower fixing block section 24b, the connector housing and the optical cable 11 can be fixed simply and securely.

[0052] The fixing of the optical cable 11 by the upper fixing block portion 24a and the lower fixing block portion 24b is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in Figure 9(a), the upper fixing block 24a may include an upper projection portion 24c for fixing the optical cable 11 from above, and an upper fitting recess portion 24d with a recessed shape that fits into the lower fixing block portion 24b.

[0053] Furthermore, for example, as shown in Figure 9(b), the lower fixing block portion 24b may include a lower cable fixing projection portion 24e for fixing the optical cable 11 from below, and a convex-shaped lower fitting projection portion 24f that fits with the upper fixing block 24a.

[0054] As shown in Figure 9(c), by simply overlapping the upper fixing block 24a and the lower fixing block portion 24b, the upper fitting recess 24d and the lower fitting protrusion 24f are fitted together and fixed simply and firmly, as shown in Figure 9(d).

[0055] The lengths a to d shown in Figure 9 correspond to the lengths a to d shown in Figure 4 of the first embodiment described above. By simply fitting the fixing block 24 into the optical cable positioning section 25, the optical cable 11 is fixed and its position to the photoelectric conversion element 21a is determined in a single step. This simple fitting method allows for more accurate and efficient alignment and fixing of the optical cable 11 and the photoelectric conversion section 21 without the use of adhesives, thereby simplifying the work and increasing efficiency.

[0056] Figure 10 shows how to secure a cable with a connector using this fixing block 24.

[0057] First, as shown in Figure 10(b), the photoelectric conversion unit 21 is fitted from above onto the lower part 2b of the connector shown in Figure 10(a). Then, as shown in Figure 10(c), the lower fixing block 24b is fitted from above onto the adjacent position (the side where the optical cable 11 is housed) of the fitted photoelectric conversion element 21a of the photoelectric conversion unit 21.

[0058] As shown in Figure 10(d), with the optical cable 11 fixed in the groove inside the lower fixing block 24b, the cable 1 is inserted from above. In this state, the upper fixing block 24a is then inserted from above into the lower fixing block 24b, as shown in Figure 10(e). As a result, the upper fixing block 24a and the lower fixing block 24b are fitted together to form the fixing block 24, and the optical cable 11 is fixed inside the fixing block 24.

[0059] As shown in Figure 10(f), the upper part 2a of the connector is fitted onto the lower part 2b of the connector from above. This causes the lower part 2b and the upper part 2a of the connector to fit together, forming the cable fixing portion 22.

[0060] As shown in Figure 11, regarding the internal structure of the photoelectric conversion connector 2, the wire 12 branched at the branching section 23 bypasses the photoelectric conversion unit 21 and connects to the connection terminal section 26 at the other end. For example, when the photoelectric conversion connector 2 is connected to the motor side of an industrial robot, power is supplied from the wire 12 to the photoelectric conversion unit 21 (e.g., FPGA) via the connection terminal section 26. Alternatively, when the photoelectric conversion connector 2 is connected to the amplifier side of an industrial robot, power is supplied directly from the connection terminal section 26 to the photoelectric conversion unit 21 (e.g., FPGA) by the connection of the power line from the amplifier side.

[0061] With this simple configuration, the upper fixing block 24a and lower fixing block 24b are used to form the photoelectric conversion connector 2 securely and firmly. This eliminates the need for adhesives or other materials to fix the optical cable 11, further improving fixing accuracy and increasing work efficiency. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 1 Cable 11 Optical Cable 12 Electric wire 13 Composite Cables 14 Sheath 15. Retaining tape 16 Intervention 2 Photoelectric Conversion Connector 2a connector top 2b connector bottom 200 Motor-side photoelectric conversion connector 210 Amplifier-side photoelectric conversion connector 21 Photoelectric conversion unit 21a Photoelectric conversion element 201a Motor-side photoelectric conversion element 211a Amplifier-side photoelectric conversion element 22 Cable fixing part 202 Motor-side cable fixing part 212 Amplifier-side cable fixing part 23 Branching point 203 Motor-side branch section 213 Amplifier-side branching section 24 Fixed block section 24a Upper fixing block section 24b Lower fixing block section Upper projection for securing 24c cable 24d Upper mating recess 24e lower projection for securing cable 24f Lower fitting protrusion 25 Optical cable positioning section 26 Connection terminal section 206 Motor-side connection terminal section 216 Amplifier-side connection terminal section 26a Communication terminal section 206a Motor-side communication terminal section 216a Amplifier-side communication terminal section 26b Power supply terminal section 206b Motor-side power supply terminal section 216b Amplifier-side connection terminal 27 Power supply section 207 Motor-side power supply unit 217 Amplifier-side power supply section 300 Amplifier 301 Power line 302 Communication Line 400 motor 401 Motor-side cable

Claims

1. A cable with a connector, comprising a cable composed of a composite cable consisting of an optical cable and an electric wire, and a photoelectric conversion connector having a photoelectric conversion unit on a substrate, which consists of a photoelectric element disposed at both ends of the cable and converts the optical signal from the optical cable into an electrical signal, The aforementioned cable, The optical cable is provided with a fixing block that secures the end of the optical cable at a position corresponding to the connection position of the photoelectric element on the substrate, The aforementioned photoelectric conversion connector, A cable fixing portion is formed on one end edge of the composite cable side of the connector housing of the photoelectric conversion connector, which fixes the end of the composite cable, A groove is formed adjacent to the cable fixing portion, and a branching portion is formed for branching the optical cable and the electric wire of the composite cable, A groove-shaped fitting portion is formed between the branching portion and the photoelectric conversion portion in a form that conforms to the external dimensions of the fixed block portion, and the fitting portion houses and fixes the fixed block portion and positions the end of the optical cable in correspondence with the connection position of the photoelectric conversion element on the substrate, The connector housing is provided with a connection terminal formed on the other end edge, which electrically connects the electrical signal converted by the photoelectric conversion unit, The fixing block portion, which is disposed at the end of the optical cable, is attached to the mating portion disposed on the photoelectric conversion connector, thereby positioning and fixing the end of the optical cable to the photoelectric conversion element. A cable with a distinctive connector.

2. In the cable with connector described in claim 1, The unit includes a power supply unit that supplies power from the connection terminal to the photoelectric conversion unit, The photoelectric conversion connector is supplied with power from the connection terminal or wire. A cable with a distinctive connector.

3. In the cable with connector described in claim 1, The electric wires branched at the aforementioned branching section are connected to the connection terminals at the other end, bypassing the photoelectric conversion section. A cable with a distinctive connector.

Images