SECURE FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR AND ADAPTER SYSTEMS

• US 20080069501A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mudd, Ronald L., Raker, Joshua D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,387,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/75
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

A secure fiber optic connector and adapter system including at least one connector including a first housing portion defining a first key slot and a second housing portion defining a second key slot independent of the first key slot, and at least one adapter including a first cavity for receiving the first housing portion and defining a first key therein for engaging with the first key slot, and a second cavity for receiving the second housing portion and defining a second key therein for engaging with the second key slot, wherein only a connector and an adapter having corresponding key slots and keys may mate. A secure fiber optic connector and adapter system for providing a level of secure access within a fiber optic network.

Claims

1. A secure fiber optic connector and adapter system, comprising:

at least one connector including a first housing portion defining a first key slot recessed within a corner of a connector main body, the first key slot having a depth structured and arranged to receive a first key, wherein the depth of the first key slot is less than a length of the connector main body, and a second housing portion comprising a latch defining a second key slot independent of the first key slot; and

at least one adapter including a first cavity portion for receiving the first housing portion and defining a first key therein for engaging with the first key slot, the first key having a length structured and arranged to fit into the first key slot, and a second cavity portion for receiving the second housing portion and defining a second key therein for engaging with the second key slot.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein only a connector and an adapter having corresponding key slots and keys may mate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector further includes at least one standard exclusion feature and the at least one adapter defines a rib slot for receiving the at least one standard exclusion feature.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a corresponding the at least one connector and the at least one adapter have matching colors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector is an LC connector.

3. (canceled)

7. A secure fiber optic connector and adapter system;

comprising;

at least one connector including at least a connector main body and a latch, the connector main body defining a square-shaped end and a first key slot recessed in a corner of the square-shaped end, wherein the first key slot does not extend along an entire length of the connector main body, and the latch defining a key slot recessed therein; and

at least one adapter defining a first key for engaging the first key slot and a second key for engaging the second key slot during engagement of the at least connector with the at least one adapter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one connector further includes at least one standard exclusion feature and the at least one adapter defines a rib slot for receiving the at least one standard exclusion feature upon engagement.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein a corresponding the at least one connector and the at least one adapter have matching colors.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one connector is an LC connector.

11. A secure fiber optic connector and adapter system, comprising:

a plurality of adapters, each adapter comprising a cavity having an inner surface comprising at least a first key and a second key, at least two or more adapters having different first and second key positions; and

a plurality of connectors, each connector comprising a housing having a ferrule maintained within the housing, the housing comprising a first key slot recessed within a corner of the housing to receive the first key, the first hey slot having a length which is less than an entire length of the housing, the housing also comprising a second key slot recessed within a latch to receive the second key, the second key slot having a length, at lease two or more connectors having different first and second key slot positions;

wherein a particular connector of said plurality of connectors having particular first and second key slots positions and lengths, and a particular adapter of said plurality of adapters having particular first and second key positions mates such that the first and the second keys are received within the first and the second key slots, and wherein the first and the second keys physically interfere with all other non-corresponding first and second key slots to prevent connector mating.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of connectors further include a standard exclusion feature to prevent a secure connector from being inserted into a non-secure adapter.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of connectors are LC connectors.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of adapters are duplex adapters.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein corresponding pluralities of connectors and adapters have matching colors.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and the second keys provide selective mating.

14. (canceled)

18-20. -20. (canceled)