OPTICAL HARNESS ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

• US 20080189508A1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zephyr Photonics
• Original Assignee: Defense Photonics Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Stark, Jason Blain, Jackson, Bradley Scott, Lenz, Gadi
• Granted Patent: US 7,515,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/202
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4281 the printed circuit boards being flexible in general H05K1/147
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4284 of optical modules with disconnectable electrical connectors latching arms for electrical connectors H01R13/627
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

An optical harness assembly and method are provided. The optical harness assembly includes at least one optical harness cable having a termination end; at least one electrical connector having connector pins; and at least one active connector conversion unit coupled between the termination end of the optical harness cable and the electrical connector. The method includes: identifying electrical signals present on each pin of each electrical connector presentation; programmatically adjusting an interface based on the identified electrical signals present; and mapping the electrical connector signals to digital signals. The method may further include: providing a personality adaptor coupled between the electrical connector pin outs and signal conditioners; configuring the personality adaptor based on the identified electrical signals present on each pin out of each electrical connector presentation; and providing configured electrical connector presentation signals to the interface.

Claims

1. A method for adapting electrical presentations of legacy terminal equipment to an active connector conversion unit, comprising:

identifying electrical signals present on each pin of electrical connector presentations of the legacy terminal equipment;

programmatically adjusting an interface, between the electrical connector presentation and the active connector conversion unit, based on the identified electrical signals present; and

mapping the electrical connector signals to digital signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying comprises testing each pin'"'"'s electrical characteristics.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface is a logic device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the logic device is firmware loaded into a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the logic device comprises hardware.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the hardware comprises an application specific integrated circuit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping is performed through signal conditioners.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the electrical connector pin presentation is correctly configured;

if correct, providing configured electrical connector presentation signals to the interface, and

if not correct, readjusting the interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the readjusting step further comprises:

removing the optical harness; and

reprogramming the interface logic device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a personality adaptor coupled between the electrical connector pins and signal conditioners of the active connector conversion unit;

configuring the personality adaptor based on the identified electrical signals present on each pin of each electrical connector presentation; and

providing configured electrical connector presentation signals to the interface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the personality adaptor is coupled to the FPGAs.

12. A method for adapting electrical presentations of legacy terminal equipment to an active connector conversion unit having signal conditioners, comprising:

identifying electrical signals present on each pin of electrical connector presentations of the legacy terminal equipment;

providing a personality adaptor coupled between the electrical connector pins and signal conditioners of the active connector conversion unit;

configuring the personality adaptor based on the identified electrical signals present on each pin of each electrical connector presentation;

programmatically adjusting an interface between the electrical connector presentation and the active connector conversion unit based on the identified electrical signals present;

mapping the electrical connector signals to digital signals;

determining if electrical connector pin presentation is correctly configured; and

if correct, providing configured electrical connector presentation signals to the interface,

if not correct, readjusting the interface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the readjusting step further comprises:

removing the optical harness; and

rewiring the personality adaptor.