TRANSCEIVER/FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR ADAPTOR WITH PATCH CORD ID READING CAPABILITY

• US 20070116411A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratos International Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Stratos International Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kowalkowski, Anthony, Herzing, Brian, Benton, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,217 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/53
• 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 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

The device includes a first optical connector, a second optical connector, a flexible substrate, a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, a memory chip, and a clip. The first electrical connector is attached to the flexible substrate. The second electrical connector is attached to the flexible substrate. The memory chip is attached to the flexible substrate. A clip retains the first optical connector and the second optical connector adjacent to the flexible substrate.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first optical connector having a first single fiber ferrule;

a second optical connector having a second single fiber ferrule;

a flexible substrate;

a first electrical connector attached to the flexible substrate, the first electrical connector having a first contact and a second contact;

a second electrical connector attached to the flexible substrate, the second electrical connector having a third contact and a fourth contact;

a memory chip attached to the flexible substrate;

a clip for retaining the first optical connector and the second optical connector adjacent to the flexible substrate.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the first fiber optic connector conforms to the LC fiber optic connector standard, and wherein the second fiber optic connector conforms to the LC fiber optic connector standard.

5. A device according to claim 2 wherein an adhesive attaches the flexible substrate to the first optical connector and to the second optical connector.

6. A device according to claim 5, further comprising a first light emitting diode for providing a first visual indication to an observer.

7. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a second light emitting diode for providing a second visual indication to the observer and wherein the memory chip includes a unique identifying code.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

8. A device comprising:

a first fiber optic connector having a single fiber ferrule;

a first electrical connector attached to the first fiber optic connector, and the first electrical connector having a third contact and a fourth contact;

a memory chip electrically associated with the first electrical connector, the memory chip containing a unique identifying code, the memory chip having a non-volatile memory so that information can be read from the memory chip and written to the memory chip;

a second fiber optic connector having a shape complementary to a shape of the first fiber optic connector, the second fiber optic connector is a receptacle; and

a second electrical connector having a shape complementary to a shape of the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector attached to the second fiber optic connector, and the second electrical connector having a first contact and a second contact, and wherein the first contact and the second contact of the second electrical connector are in the receptacle of the second fiber optic connector, and wherein,

when the first fiber optic connector is plugged into the second fiber optic connector, the first fiber optic connector is in optical communication with the second fiber optic connector, the first contact and the second contact of the second electrical connector are in electrical communication with the third contact and the fourth contact of the first electrical connector, and the second electrical connector is electrically associated with the memory chip.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the first fiber optic connector conforms to the LC fiber optic connector standard, and wherein the second fiber optic connector conforms to the LC fiber optic connector standard.

11. A device according to claim 9 wherein the receptacle of the second fiber optic connector is a duplex receptacle.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the second fiber optic connector includes a light emitting diode for providing a first visual indication to an observer.

15. A device according to claim 12 wherein the first optical connector includes a substantially planar side.

10. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. A device comprising:

a housing;

an optical connector attached to the housing, the optical connector including a first receptacle and a second receptacle, and wherein the first receptacle of the optical connector includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, and wherein the second receptacle of the optical connector includes a third electrical contact and a fourth electrical contact, the first receptacle accommodates only a first single fiber ferrule, and the second receptacle accommodates only a second single fiber ferrule;

a first light emitting diode attached to the optical connector for providing a first visual indication to an observer;

a second light emitting diode attached to the optical connector for providing a second visual indication to the observer;

a first optical sub-assembly mounted to the housing and being in optical communication with the first receptacle of the optical connector; and

a second optical sub-assembly mounted to the housing and being in optical communication with the second receptacle of the optical connector.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein the first receptacle of the fiber optic connector conforms to the LC fiber optic connector standard, and wherein the second receptacle of the fiber optic connector conforms to the LC fiber optic connector standard.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. A transceiver comprising:

a housing;

an electrical connector attached to the housing;

an optical connector attached to the housing, the optical connector including a first receptacle and a second receptacle, and wherein the first receptacle of the optical connector includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, and wherein the second receptacle of the optical connector includes a third electrical contact and a fourth electrical contact, the first receptacle accommodates a first single fiber ferrule, and the second receptacle accommodates a second single fiber ferrule;

a first optical sub-assembly mounted to the housing and being in optical communication with the first receptacle of the optical connector;

a second optical sub-assembly mounted to the housing and being in optical communication with the second receptacle of the optical connector;

a memory chip having a unique identifying code; and

a printed circuit board mounted in the housing, the printed circuit board having electric signal conditioning components mounted thereon, and wherein the electric signal conditioning components electrically associate the first optical sub-assembly and the second optical sub-assembly to the electrical connector, and wherein the electric signal conditioning components electrically associate the first electrical contact, the second electrical contact, the third electrical contact, and the fourth electrical contact with the memory chip, and wherein the electrical signal conditioning components and the memory chip are compatible with the I2C standard.