Modular receptacle assembly and interface with integral optical indication

• US 20050063647A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enterasys Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Graham, Richard W., Stewart, Thomas A., Thornton, Martin Q., Ferland, William M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/89
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/421 the intermediate optical component consisting of a short length of fibre, e.g. fibre stub
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6641 with diode with LED H01R13/7175
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7172 Conduits for light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices

Abstract

A modular receptacle assembly includes integral optical indication. The receptacle assembly includes a module housing one or more receptacles configured to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug. A light pipe having proximal and distal ends, is disposed in the footprint of the module. The proximal end is coupled to the receptacle, and the distal end is coupled to a light source. The proximal end is configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within said receptacle. An actuator is configured to selectively operate the light pipe.

Claims

1. A stacked, multi-receptacle modular RJ-XX interface with integral optical indication, the interface comprising:

a plurality of modular plugs having leading and trailing portions fabricated from an optically transmissive material;

a assembly having first and second rows of stacked receptacles;

the stacked receptacles defined by wall portions extending from a front plane to an end wall;

the assembly being superposed with a circuit board to define a footprint thereon;

the receptacles each sized and shaped to releasably receive the leading portion of a modular plug therein;

a plurality of light pipes extending from a proximal end coupled to each receptacle, to a distal end coupled to a light source;

light pipes coupled to the second row of receptacles being disposed within the footprint of the assembly;

the proximal end of each light pipe being disposed to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed in the receptacle;

the plug being configured to transmit the light from the leading portion to the trailing portion, wherein the trailing portion serves as an integral optical indicator; and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipes.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein proximal ends are coupled to the end walls of the first row of receptacles;

and

proximal ends are coupled to a wall portion of the second row of receptacles.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein the light pipes are free of the front plane.

4. A modular receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a module having a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

the module having a footprint in a plane parallel to the insertion direction;

a light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the light pipe being disposed in the footprint of the module;

the proximal end coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within said receptacle;

and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe.

5. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, wherein the module comprises a plurality of receptacles.

6. The receptacle assembly of claim 5, wherein the module comprises a plurality of stacked receptacles.

7. The receptacle assembly of claim 6, wherein the module is superposed with the circuit board.

8. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, comprising a plurality of light pipes.

9. The receptacle assembly of claim 8, wherein said receptacle comprises an RJ-XX receptacle.

10. The receptacle assembly of claim 9, comprising a plurality of stacked RJ-XX receptacles.

11. The receptacle assembly of claim 5, comprising a plurality of light pipes.

12. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, wherein the module is superposed with a circuit board, and the light pipe is disposed between the module and the circuit board.

13. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, wherein the light pipe is free of the front plane.

14. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, wherein the light source is disposed within the footprint.

15. The receptacle assembly of claim 6, wherein the stacked receptacles are disposed in first and second rows.

16. The receptacle assembly of claim 15, wherein light pipes coupled to the first row are disposed within the footprint of the module.

17. The receptacle assembly of claim 16, wherein light pipes coupled to the second row are disposed within the footprint of the module.

18. The receptacle assembly of claim 5, comprising a plurality of light sources.

19. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, comprising a plug disposed within the receptacle.

20. The receptacle assembly of claim 19, wherein a trailing portion of the plug is configured for being illuminated by the light radiated onto the leading portion thereof.

21. The receptacle assembly of claim 20, wherein the plug comprises a light guide.

22. The receptacle assembly of claim 21, wherein the plug is optically transmissive.

23. The receptacle assembly of claim 22, wherein the plug is optically translucent.

24. The receptacle assembly of claim 20, wherein the light pipe is configured to convey status information, and the trailing portion of the plug comprises an integral optical indicator.

25. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, wherein the light pipes comprise a multi-fiber, fiber optic cable.

44. The receptacle assembly of claim 4, wherein said proximal end is optically coupled to the receptacle.

45. The receptacle of claim 44, wherein said proximal end is coupled to the receptacle by at least one reflective surface disposed optically between said proximal end and said receptacle.

26. A modular receptacle assembly with integral optical indication, comprising:

a plurality of stacked receptacles each sized and shaped to releasably receive a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

at least one light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the proximal end being coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end extending from the receptacle to a light source;

the light pipe being free of the front plane;

the proximal end being disposed to radiate light into the receptacle.

27. The receptacle assembly of claim 26, further comprising an actuator configured to selectively actuate the light pipes.

28. The receptacle assembly of claim 26, wherein the proximal end is disposed to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within the receptacle.

29. The receptacle assembly of claim 28, comprising the plug.

30. The receptacle assembly of claim 29, wherein a trailing portion of the plug is configured for being illuminated by the light radiated onto the leading portion thereof.

31. The receptacle assembly of claim 30, wherein the light pipe is configured to convey status information, and the trailing portion of the plug comprises an integral optical indicator.

32. A method of providing status indication for a modular receptacle assembly, the method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of modular plugs having leading and trailing portions fabricated from an optically transmissive material;

(b) providing a plurality stacked receptacles each sized and shaped to releasably receive the leading portion of a modular plug therein;

(c) utilizing a plurality of light pipes each having a proximal end and a distal end;

(d) coupling at least one of the proximal ends to each receptacle;

(e) extending the distal ends to a light source;

(f) maintaining the light pipes free of the front plane;

(g) disposing each proximal end to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed therein;

(h) disposing an actuator to selectively operate the light pipes;

wherein light is selectively transmitted from the leading portion to the trailing portion, so that the trailing portion serves as an integral optical indicator.

33. A receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a module having a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive, in an insertion direction, a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

a light pipe having at least one proximal end, at least one distal end, and a junction configured to alternately aggregate and distribute light being transmitted therethrough;

the proximal end coupled to the receptacle;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed therein;

and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe.

34. The receptacle assembly of claim 33, wherein the junction comprises a furcation.

35. The receptacle of claim 33, wherein the junction comprises a frusto-conical portion.

36. The receptacle of claim 33, wherein said junction is configured to optically couple a plurality of light sources to a receptacle.

37. The receptacle of claim 33, wherein said module comprises a plurality of receptacles.

38. The receptacle of claim 37, wherein said junction is configured to optically couple a single light source to said plurality of receptacles.

39. A receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a receptacle disposed therein;

the receptacle sized and shaped to releasably receive a leading portion of a plug therein;

the receptacle having a pin field including a plurality of information-transmissive pin connectors disposed in spaced relation therein;

a light pipe having a proximal end and a distal end;

the proximal end disposed within said pin field;

the distal end coupled to a light source;

the proximal end configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed within said receptacle; and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipe.

40. The receptacle assembly of claim 39, wherein the light pipe is interposed between said pin connectors.

41. The receptacle assembly of claim 39, wherein the light pipe is disposed in place of one of said pin connectors.

42. The receptacle assembly of claim 39, wherein the receptacle comprises a DSUB receptacle.

43. A stacked, multi-receptacle modular receptacle assembly having integral optical indication, the receptacle assembly comprising:

a plurality of stacked receptacles;

the stacked receptacles being superposed with a circuit board;

the stacked receptacles each sized and shaped to releasably receive a leading portion of a modular plug therein;

a plurality of light pipes each having a proximal end and a distal end;

the proximal ends each being coupled to a receptacle;

the distal ends coupled to at least one light source;

each proximal end being configured to radiate light onto the leading portion of a plug disposed therein;

at least one of the light pipes disposed between the stacked receptacles and the circuit board; and

an actuator configured to selectively operate the light pipes.