Optical assemblies with managed connectivity

• US 10,268,000 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.), CommScope Connectivity UK Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.), CommScope Connectivity UK Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Marcouiller, Thomas, Taylor, Christopher Charles, Pfarr, John T., Bolster, Kristofer, Bran de Leon, Oscar Fernando, Mattson, Loren J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak, Sung H
• Application Number:
  US15/722,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4261 Packages with mounting structures to be pluggable or detachable, e.g. having latches or rails
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/428 containing printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/728 Coupling devices without an insulating housing provided on the edge of the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An adapter block assembly includes an adapter block, a circuit board arrangement, and a cover attached to the adapter block so that the circuit board arrangement is held to the adapter block by the cover. Contact assemblies can be disposed between the adapter block and the circuit board arrangement. The cover can be latched, heat staked, or otherwise secured to the adapter block. Each component of the adapter block assembly can include one or more parts (e.g., multiple adapter blocks, multiple circuit boards, and/or multiple cover pieces).

Claims

1. An optical adapter module comprising:

(a) an adapter housing extending along a length between opposite first and second ends, the adapter housing defining a row of front ports and a row of rear ports extending between the opposite first and second ends, the adapter housing including;

(i) a first adapter housing section defining a first plurality of the front ports and a first plurality of the rear ports, each of the rear ports of the first plurality being aligned with one of the front ports of the first plurality;

(ii) a second adapter housing section defining a second plurality of the front ports and a second plurality of the rear ports, each of the rear ports of the second plurality being aligned with one of the front ports of the second plurality;

(b) a circuit board extending along the length of the adapter housing, the circuit board including a plurality of media reading interfaces, each media reading interface being aligned along the length of the adapter housing with one of the front ports, the circuit board also including a circuit board connector; and

(c) a protection member disposed between the first adapter housing section and the second adapter housing section, the protection member including a shroud into which the circuit board connector extends.

2. The optical adapter module of claim 1, wherein the first adapter housing section includes a first adapter block and the second adapter housing section includes a second adapter block.

3. The optical adapter module of claim 1, wherein each media reading interface includes a plurality of contact members.

4. The optical adapter module of claim 3, wherein each media reading interface includes at least three contact members.

5. The optical adapter module of claim 4, wherein each media reading interface includes at least four contact members.

6. The optical adapter module of claim 1, wherein the shroud is a first shroud;

and wherein the protection member includes a second shroud aligned with the first shroud.

7. The optical adapter module of claim 1, wherein a first mounting member is disposed at the first end and a second mounting member is disposed at the second end.

8. The optical adapter module of claim 7, wherein the first and second mounting members are identical.

9. The optical adapter module of claim 1, wherein some of the front ports are staggered relative to others of the front ports.

10. The optical adapter module of claim 1, further comprising a cover mounted to the adapter housing to sandwich the circuit board between the adapter housing and the cover.

11. An optical adapter module comprising:

(a) an adapter housing extending along a length between opposite first and second ends, the adapter housing defining a row of front ports and a row of rear ports extending between the opposite first and second ends, at least some of the front ports being staggered relative to others of the front ports, the adapter housing including a first mounting member at the first end and a second mounting member at the second end;

(b) a circuit board extending along the length of the adapter housing, the circuit board including a plurality of media reading interfaces, each media reading interface being aligned along the length of the adapter housing with one of the front ports, at least some of the media reading interfaces being staggered relative to others of the media reading interfaces, the circuit board also including a circuit board connector; and

(c) a protection member disposed at an intermediate position along the length of the adapter housing, the protection member including a shroud into which the circuit board connector extends.

12. The optical adapter module of claim 11, further comprising a cover mounted to the adapter housing to sandwich the circuit board between the adapter housing and the cover.

13. The optical adapter module of claim 12, wherein the cover defines apertures and the adapter housing includes protrusions that extend through the apertures when the cover is mounted to the adapter housing.

14. The optical adapter module of claim 13, wherein the protrusions include latch hooks.

15. The optical adapter module of claim 11, wherein each media reading interface includes a plurality of contact members.

16. The optical adapter module of claim 15, wherein each media reading interface includes at least three contact members.

17. The optical adapter module of claim 16, wherein each media reading interface includes at least four contact members.

18. The optical adapter module of claim 11, wherein the shroud is a first shroud;

and wherein the protection member includes a second shroud aligned with the first shroud.

19. The optical adapter module of claim 18, wherein the first and second mounting members are identical.

20. The optical adapter module of claim 11, wherein some of the front ports are staggered relative to others of the front ports.