Optical adapter module with managed connectivity

• US 10,509,177 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pepe, Paul John, Coffey, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Radkowski, Peter
• Application Number:
  US15/997,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20180348445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 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 6/3879 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: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/718 Contact members provided on the PCB without an insulating housing contacts for abutting H01R12/714
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/73 connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A connection module includes a module body and a module circuit board arrangement. The module body defines a first port and an open first end providing access to the first port. The module circuit board arrangement extends across the open first end within a peripheral boundary defined by the module body. The module circuit board arrangement includes at least a first contact set that extends into the first port of the module body; an electronic controller that is electrically connected to the first contact set; and a circuit board connector facing outwardly from the module board arrangement. Example connection modules include optical adapters and electrical jacks.

Claims

1. A circuit board arrangement comprising:

a system circuit board having a first major side;

a plurality of circuit board connectors disposed in a row at the first major side of the system circuit board;

a plurality of connection modules mounted to the first major surface of the system circuit board at the circuit board connectors, each connection module including an optical adapter that defines a front port and a rear port, each optical adapter also defining an opening leading to an interior of the optical adapter; and

a plurality of module circuit board arrangements each disposed at the opening of a respective one of the optical adapters, each module circuit board arrangement including a media reading interface facing the interior of the respective optical adapter and being accessible by a plug connector received at one of the front and rear ports of the respective optical adapter.

2. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein a first of the optical adapters includes a plurality of front ports and a plurality of rear ports.

3. The circuit board arrangement of claim 2, wherein the module circuit board arrangement of the first optical adapter carries a plurality of media reading interfaces, each of the media reading interfaces of the module circuit board arrangement of the first optical adapter being aligned with one of the front ports or one of the rear ports.

4. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein each module circuit board arrangement includes a circuit board connector that mates with one of the circuit board connectors of the system circuit board.

5. The circuit board arrangement of claim 4, wherein the circuit board connector of each module circuit board arrangement is electrically coupled to each media reading interface of the module circuit board arrangement.

6. The circuit board arrangement of claim 4, wherein each circuit board connector of the module circuit board arrangements is externally-facing.

7. The circuit board arrangement of claim 4, wherein each circuit board connector of the module circuit board arrangements is disposed within an outer periphery of the respective optical adapter.

8. The circuit board arrangement of claim 7, wherein each circuit board connector of the module circuit board arrangements is recessed within a body of the optical adapter.

9. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein each module circuit board arrangement includes a module controller configured to obtain information from an electronic storage device.

10. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein each module circuit board arrangement is disposed within the opening of the respective one of the optical adapters.

11. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein a first of the connection modules is configured to receive an optical LC connector.

12. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein a first of the connection modules is configured to receive an optical SC connector.

13. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein a first of the connection modules is configured to receive an optical MPO connector.

14. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein a first of the connection modules is configured to receive an electrical plug connector.

15. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein the opening of each connection module is disposed between the front and rear ports.

16. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein each module circuit board arrangement is recessed within a body of the optical adapter.

17. The circuit board arrangement of claim 16, wherein each module circuit board arrangement is sufficiently recessed to accommodate a module controller between the module circuit board arrangement and the system circuit board.

18. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein each module circuit board arrangement also includes a module controller electrically connected to the media reading interface.

19. The circuit board arrangement of claim 1, wherein each media reading interface includes a contact member accessible from within the respective connection module.

20. The circuit board arrangement of claim 19, wherein the contact member of each media reading interface is one of a plurality of contact members.