Fiber optic/electrical connection system

• US 10,345,531 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2018
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commscope Emea Limited (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Trevor D., Lu, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US15/996,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20180284355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• 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 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3887 Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4293 hybrid electrical and optical connections for transmitting electrical and optical signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4434 Central member to take up tensile loads

Abstract

A fiber optic and electrical connection system includes a fiber optic cable, a ruggedized fiber optic connector, a ruggedized fiber optic adapter, and a fiber optic enclosure. The cable includes one or more electrically conducting strength members. The connector, the adapter, and the enclosure each have one or more electrical conductors. The cable is terminated by the connector with the conductors of the connector in electrical communication with the strength members. The conductors of the connector electrically contact the conductors of the adapter when the connector and the adapter are mechanically connected. And, the conductors of the adapter electrically contact the conductors of the enclosure when the adapter is mounted on the enclosure.

Claims

1. A ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector configured to terminate a fiber optic and electrical cable, the ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector comprising:

a connector housing including at least one electrical contact pathway that longitudinally extends at least partially within the connector housing;

a ferrule mounted to the connector housing and configured to terminate at least one optical fiber of the fiber optic and electrical cable;

at least one electrical contact received at least partially in the at least one electrical contact pathway of the connector housing and configured to terminate at least one electrical conductor of the fiber optic and electrical cable; and

a rotatable coupler rotatably mounted around the connector housing and configured to mechanically connect the ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector to a mating device.

2. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the mating device is a fiber optic and electrical adapter.

3. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 2, further comprising:

a plug portion arranged at a distal end of the connector housing and configured for insertion into a port of the fiber optic and electrical adapter.

4. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the mating device is a second fiber optic and electrical connector.

5. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one electrical contact has a contacting portion exposed from the connector housing and arranged adjacent the ferrule.

6. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 2, wherein each of the at least one electrical contact has a contacting portion exposed from the connector housing at the plug portion.

7. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the rotatable coupler includes a coupling nut.

8. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a sealing member mounted around the connector housing.

9. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 8, wherein the connector housing includes a monolithic structure that defines a ferrule mount that mounts the ferrule and a sealing surface that seals against the sealing member.

10. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes at least one channel that receives the at least one electrical conductor of the fiber optic and electrical cable.

11. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 10, wherein that at least one electrical contact pathway is connected to the at least one channel of the connector housing to electrically connect the at least one electrical contact with the at least one electrical conductor of the fiber optic and electrical cable.

12. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrical contact includes a lug adapted to be mechanically and electrically connected with the at least one electrical conductor of the fiber optic and electrical cable.

13. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the lug is bonded to the strength member by an electrically conducting material.

14. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical conductor of the fiber optic and electrical cable includes at least one strength member of the fiber optic and electrical cable.

15. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes at least one detent that exposes the at least one electrical contact pathway.

16. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical contact pathway extends substantially parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the connector housing.

17. The ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical contact pathway includes a pair of electrical contact pathways.

18. A fiber optic and electrical connection system comprising:

a fiber optic and electrical cable including at least one electrical conductor, an optical fiber, and a cable jacket positioned around the at least one electrical conductor and the optical fiber;

the ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector according to any of claims 1-17; and

a fiber optic and electrical adapter configured to mechanically engage with the ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector, the fiber optic and electrical adapter including;

an adapter housing with a first end defining a first port and an opposite second end defining a second port; and

at least one adapter electrical contact in the first port that electrically connects to the at least one electrical contact of the ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector when the fiber optic and electrical adapter engages with the ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector.

19. The fiber optic and electrical connection system of claim 18, wherein the fiber optic and electrical adapter further includes a ferrule sleeve within the adapter housing that receives the ferrule.

20. The fiber optic and electrical connection system of claim 18, wherein the first port of the fiber optic and electrical adapter is configured to receive the plug portion of the ruggedized fiber optic and electrical connector.