Active optical connector using audio port

1. An active optical connector using an audio port of an electronic device, the connector comprising:

(a) a plug having a longitudinally extending central through-bore;

(b) a conductor mounted on the plug;

(c) first and second optical fibers extending through the central through-bore and having first and second front ends held in a fiber ferrule for receiving and emitting optical signals respectively therethrough;

(d) a jack having a housing with a front opening;

(e) a terminal mounted in the housing and configured to make contact with the conductor on the plug when the plug is fully inserted into the housing through the front opening thereof;

(f) an optical transceiver module mounted at a rear open end of the housing, the optical transceiver module comprising a receptacle for receiving the fiber ferrule;

(g) a light source provided on the optical transceiver module for emitting light towards the first front end of the first optical fiber;

(h) a photo-detector provided on the optical transceiver module for receiving light from the second front end of the second optical fiber; and

(i) a controller chip connected to the light source and the photo-detector, and comprising a converting circuit configured to convert electrical signals into optical signal and optical signals into electrical signals.

2. The connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plug is provided with a key configured to be insertable into a mating keyway formed at the front opening of the housing to guide the insertion of the plug into the jack.

3. The connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fiber ferrule is provided with a keyway configured to receive therein a mating key formed in the receptacle.

4. A plug for insertion into a jack, the plug comprising:

(a) a body having a longitudinally extending central through-bore;

(b) a conductor mounted on the body and configured to make contact with a corresponding terminal provided in the jack when the plug is fully inserted therein; and

(c) first and second optical fibers extending through the central through-bore for receiving and emitting optical signals respectively therethrough, and having first and second front ends respectively held in a fiber ferrule for insertion into a receptacle formed on an optical transceiver module of the jack when the plug is fully inserted into the jack.

5. The plug as claimed in claim 4 , comprising a protective tube for receiving therein the first and second optical fibers.

6. The plug as claimed in claim 4 , comprising a window attached to a front face of the fiber ferrule.

7. The plug as claimed in claim 4 , comprising:

a first conductor comprising:

(a) a front metal tip provided at a front portion of the plug for making contact with a first metal contact in the jack;

(b) a first metal ring connected to and mounted within a central through-hole of the front metal tip;

(c) a first metal tube having a front end connected to the first metal ring; and

(d) a first terminal connected to a rear end of the first metal tube;

a second conductor comprising:

(e) a second metal ring mounted at a middle portion of the plug for making contact with a second metal contact in the jack;

(f) a second metal tube having a front end connected to the second metal ring; and

(g) a second terminal connected to a rear end of the second metal tube.

8. The plug as claimed in claim 7 , comprising

a first insulating ring mounted between the first and second metal rings; and

a plastic separator mounted between a first flange extending radially outwardly from the rear end of the first metal tube and a second flange extending radially outwardly from the rear end of the second metal tube.

9. The plug as claimed in claim 7 , comprising:

(a) a third conductor comprising a first semi-cylindrical metal member mounted at a rear portion of the plug for making contact with a first semi-circular metal contact in the jack, and a third terminal connected to the first semi-cylindrical metal member; and

(b) a fourth conductor comprising a second semi-cylindrical metal member mounted at a rear portion of the plug for making contact with a second semi-circular metal contact in the jack, and a fourth terminal connected to the second semi-cylindrical metal member, wherein the first and second semi-cylindrical metal members form a substantially cylindrical metal member.

10. The plug as claimed in claim 9 , comprising a second insulating ring mounted between the second metal ring and the cylindrical metal member.

11. The plug as claimed in claim 9 , comprising an insulating guard mounted between the third and fourth semi-cylindrical metal members, wherein the insulating guard comprises first and second axially extending cylindrical-shaped projections formed on two opposite sides thereof for slidably coupling with first and second axially extending cylindrical-shaped grooves formed on the first and second semi-cylindrical metal members respectively.

12. A jack for the insertion of a plug therein, the jack comprising:

(a) a housing having a front opening through which the plug is insertable;

(b) a metal contact mounted in the housing and configured to make contact with a corresponding conductor on the plug when the plug is fully inserted into the jack;

(c) an optical transceiver module mounted at a rear open end of the housing, the optical transceiver module comprising a receptacle for receiving therein a fiber ferrule that holds first and second front ends of first and second optical fibers received in a central through-hole of the plug;

(d) a light source provided on the optical transceiver module for emitting light towards the first front end of the first optical fiber;

(e) a photo-detector provided on the optical transceiver module for receiving light from the second front end of the second optical fiber; and

(f) a controller chip connected to the light source and the photo-detector, and comprising a converting circuit configured to convert electrical signals into optical signal and optical signals into electrical signals.

13. The jack as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the optical transceiver module comprises a light source driver and a photo-detector signal amplifier.

14. The jack as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of a light-emitting diode and a laser; and the photo-detector comprises a photodiode.

15. The jack as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising a spring provided between a rear end of the optical transceiver module and a module holder for absorbing the load from the plug and maintaining a tight connection between the plug and the jack.

16. The jack as claimed in claim 12 , comprising first and second semi-circular metal contacts for making contact with first and second semi-cylindrical metal contacts provided on the plug respectively.

17. The jack as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the optical transceiver module further comprises a first lens disposed between the light source and the first front end of the first optical fiber along a first optical axis, and a second lens disposed between the photo-detector and the second front end of the second optical fiber along a second optical axis.

18. The jack as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the receptacle and the first and second lenses are formed on a lens cover plate disposed perpendicular to the first and second optical axes.

19. The jack as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the light source, the photo-detector and the controller chip are mounted on a substrate fixed to the lens cover plate.

20. The jack as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the optical transceiver module comprises a flexible circuit connector connecting the controller chip to a circuit board of an external electronic device.