Connector Housing for a Communication Network

• US 20090269019A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Andrus, Scott F., McGranahan, Daniel S., Blackwell, Chois A. JR., Kingsbury, Brian D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/135
• 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 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4453 Cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/023 using sliding mechanisms for accessing the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/06 Cable ducts or mountings specially adapted for exchange installations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/10 Exchange station construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/155 characterised by connection features

Abstract

A connector housing for use with a communication network and management system thereof includes a housing having a plurality of berths each configured to receive an optical connector adapter unit. A housing electrical connector is associated with each berth and faces the front of the housing to engage an adapter unit electrical connector as the adapter unit is inserted into the berth. Guide elements guide and align the housing electrical connectors with the adapter unit connectors as the adapter units are inserted into the berth to allow blind mating of the housing electrical connectors and the adapter unit connectors. Electrical contacts from at least two housing electrical connectors are consolidated into a cable connector positioned adjacent the back of the housing.

Claims

1. A connector housing for a communications network comprising:

a housing assembly having an interior defined by a first side panel, a second side panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel, the interior having a plurality of berths therein, wherein each berth is configured to receive an adapter unit inserted from a front of the housing assembly;

a housing electrical connector associated with each berth, each housing electrical connector facing the front of the housing assembly and configured to engage an adapter unit electrical connector as the adapter unit is inserted into the berth;

guide elements configured to guide and align the housing electrical connectors with the adapter unit connectors as the adapter units are inserted into the berth, the guide elements configured to allow blind mating of the housing electrical connectors and the adapter unit connectors; and

at least one cable connector positioned adjacent a back of the housing assembly, the cable connector in electrical communication with and consolidating electrical contacts from at least two housing electrical connectors.

2. The connector housing of claim 1, further comprising a tray slidably mounted to the housing assembly, wherein the housing electrical connectors and guide elements are supported on the tray.

3. The connector housing of claim 2, wherein the housing assembly has a 1 U size.

4. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the housing assembly has a 4 U size.

5. The connector housing of claim 1, further comprising a first sub-assembly positioned within the housing assembly adjacent one of the top panel and the bottom panel, the first sub-assembly defining a first guide surface and supporting the housing electrical connectors facing the front of the housing assembly, and further supporting the cable connectors positioned adjacent the back of the housing assembly, wherein cables extending between the connectors are concealed by the first guide surface.

6. The connector housing of claim 5, wherein the first sub-assembly further includes a plurality of first guide elements protruding from the first guide surface.

7. The connector housing of claim 6, further comprising a second sub-assembly positioned within the housing assembly opposite the first sub-assembly, the second sub-assembly defining a second guide surface and having a plurality of second guide elements protruding therefrom;

wherein the first guide surface, second guide surface, first guide elements and second guide elements define the plurality of berths and are configured to guide and roughly align adapter units as they are inserted into the berths.

8. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the housing electrical connectors are positioned on a first side of a backplane printed circuit board, and wherein the backplane printed circuit board consolidates signals from two or more housing electrical connectors into a single rearward facing cable connector.

9. The connector housing of claim 7, wherein the first sub-assembly is positioned adjacent the top panel and the second sub-assembly is positioned adjacent the bottom panel such that the first guide surface defines a ceiling and the second guide surface defines a floor, and wherein cables extending between the connectors are concealed between the ceiling and the top panel.

10. A communication network management system comprising:

the connector housing of claim 1; and

an adapter unit having on a front side thereof a plurality of adapters for making optical connections with optical waveguides, and wherein the adapter unit electrical connector is in electrical communication with a plurality of contact pads on the front side of the adapter unit, each of the plurality of contact pads associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of adapters.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the adapters comprise an LC duplex adapter, LC adapter, SC adapter, FC adapter, ST adapter, FC duplex adapter, ST duplex adapter, SC duplex adapter, FDDI adapter, and MT adapter.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the adapter units comprise one of an adapter module and an adapter panel.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the adapter unit further includes an optical fiber harness combining the plurality of adapters on the front side of the adapter unit into one or more consolidated adapters adjacent a back side of the adapter unit.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a patch cable configured for connection with at least one of the adapters, each end of the patch cable including an optical connector and an electrical connector, the electrical connector configured to engage the contact pad of the corresponding adapter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electrical connector of the patch cable comprises a pogo pin.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein each one of the plurality of contact pads has a corresponding electrical test pad located on the front side of the adapter unit.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising an analyzer in electrical communication with the plurality of contact pads on the front side of the adapter unit via the at least one cable connector positioned adjacent the back of the housing assembly and the housing electrical connectors connected thereto, the analyzer configured to individually poll the plurality of contact pads to determine which adapters are populated by a patch cable.

18. A retrofit kit for a communication network connector housing, the kit comprising:

a sub-assembly configured for installation within a connector housing, the sub-assembly supporting a first plurality of electrical connectors at a front side thereof, the first plurality of connectors consolidated by a cable to a lesser number of electrical connectors configured for positioning at a back side of the connector housing.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the sub-assembly comprises a tray configured for sliding connection to a connector housing.

20. The kit of claim 18, wherein the sub-assembly comprises a first sub-assembly configured for installation adjacent one of a top panel and a bottom panel of the connector housing, the first sub-assembly defining a first guide surface having a plurality of first guide elements protruding therefrom, the first sub-assembly supporting the first plurality of electrical connectors at a front side thereof, a second lesser plurality of electrical connectors at a back side thereof, and cables extending between the first and second plurality of connectors, wherein electrical contacts of the first plurality of connectors are consolidated into the second plurality of connectors.

21. The kit of claim 20, further comprising a second sub-assembly configured for installation opposite from the first sub-assembly, the second sub-assembly defining a second guide surface having a plurality of second guide elements protruding therefrom;

wherein, when installed in a connector housing, the first guide surface, second guide surface, first guide elements and second guide elements define a plurality of berths and are configured to guide and roughly align adapter units as they are inserted into the berths.