MANAGED CONNECTIVITY IN FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20110116748A1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Schroeder, Michael D., Smrha, Mark, Gunderson, Michael, Loch, Vern
• Granted Patent: US 8,596,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/76
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two 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 6/3897 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 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

A fiber optic connector arrangement includes a printed circuit board coupled to a connector housing. The printed circuit board includes a memory storage device that is configured to store physical layer information pertaining to the fiber optic connector arrangement. The printed circuit board also defines contacts that are electrically coupled to the memory storage device to enable the physical layer information to be read from the memory storage device by a media reading interface. A connector assembly includes at least one adapter assembly; a printed circuit board; and a media reading interface. The connector assembly also may include a tactile pressure sensor. The adapter assembly defines at least a first port and a second port that are configured to connect optical fibers of two connector arrangements. One or more connector assemblies can be mounted to a fiber panel system.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector arrangement comprising:

a first connector holder including a ferrule configured to terminate a first optical fiber;

a frame coupled to the first connector holder, the frame being sized and shaped to accommodate a portion of the first connector holder when the frame is coupled to the first connector holder, the frame also defining a retainer seat;

a printed circuit board having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the printed circuit board being positioned on the retainer seat so that the second side of the printed circuit board faces the first connector holder when the frame is coupled to the first connector holder;

a memory storage device installed on the second side of the printed circuit board, the memory storage device being configured to store physical layer information pertaining to the fiber optic connector arrangement; and

a plurality of electrical contacts located on the first side of the printed circuit board, the electrical contacts being electrically connected to the memory storage device via the printed circuit board.

2. The fiber connector arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a second connector holder including a second ferrule configured to terminate a second optical fiber, the second connector holder being coupled to the frame adjacent the first connector holder to form a duplex connector arrangement.

3. The fiber connector arrangement of claim 2, wherein the frame includes side arms extending upwardly from the retainer seat to connect to ends of a bar, the frame also including an intermediate wall extending from the bar toward the retainer seat intermediate the two side arms to define two channels in which the first and second connector holders are received.

4. The fiber connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the frame defines a channel to accommodate the storage device installed on the printed circuit board.

5. The fiber connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein the storage device includes an EEPROM circuit arranged on the printed circuit board.

6. The fiber connector arrangement of claim 1, further comprising an infra-red (IR) communications device that is configured to send and receive IR communications signals to and from a local source to enable a technician to transfer data between the storage device and the local source.

7. A connector assembly comprising:

a housing defining a stepped profile along a longitudinal axis of the housing;

a plurality of adapter assemblies mounted within the housing, at least one adapter assembly is accommodated within the housing at each step of the profile, each adapter assembly defining at least a first port and a second port that are configured to connect optical fibers terminated by two connector arrangements;

a printed circuit board mounted within the housing;

a first media reading interface installed on and electrically coupled to the printed circuit board, the media reading interface being located adjacent the first port of a first of the adapter assemblies.

8. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the printed circuit board includes a card edge interface defined along one end of the printed circuit board to connect the printed circuit board to a physical layer management network.

9. The connector assembly of claim 7, further comprising a tactile pressure sensor installed on the printed circuit board, the tactile pressure sensor being associated with the first port of the first adapter assembly.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9, further comprising a spring board assembly positioned between the first adapter assembly and the printed circuit board, the spring board assembly being configured to actuate the tactile pressure sensor when a connector arrangement is inserted into the first port of the first adapter assembly.

11. A connector assembly comprising:

a housing including a first portion and a second portion that is configured to secure to the first portion;

a plurality of first adapter assemblies mounted within the first portion of the housing, each first adapter assembly defining at least a first port and a second port that are configured to connect optical fibers terminated by two connector arrangements;

a plurality of second adapter assemblies mounted within the second portion of the housing, each second adapter assembly defining at least a first port and a second port that are configured to connect optical fibers terminated by two connector arrangements;

a printed circuit board mounted within the housing between the first and second adapter assemblies, the printed circuit board including a first side facing the first adapter assemblies and a second side facing the second adapter assemblies;

a first media reading interface installed on the first side of the printed circuit board, the first media reading interface being located adjacent one of the ports of one of the first adapter assemblies; and

a second media reading interface installed on the second side of the printed circuit board, the second media reading interface being located adjacent one of the ports of one of the second adapter assemblies.

12. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board defines a card-edge connector.

13. The connector assembly of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of additional media reading interfaces installed on the printed circuit board, each additional media reading interface being located adjacent one of the ports of one of the adapter assemblies.

14. A connector assembly comprising:

a housing enclosing at least a first adapter assembly, the first adapter assembly defining a plurality of first ports and a plurality of second ports, the first and second ports being configured to connect optical fibers terminated by connector arrangements;

a printed circuit board mounted within the housing adjacent the first adapter assembly;

at least a first tactile pressure sensor installed on the printed circuit board adjacent at least one of the first ports of the first adapter assembly; and

a spring board assembly positioned within the housing between the first adapter assembly and the printed circuit board, the spring board assembly including a frame member having at least one cantilevered arm that is configured to flex in a first direction and a second direction, the cantilevered arm defining a ramped surface that protrudes in the first direction and a button that protrudes in the second direction, the spring board assembly being arranged on the printed circuit board to align the button with the tactile pressure sensor and to align the ramped surface with the at least one port of the first adapter assembly.

15. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the adapter assembly defines an opening configured to enable the ramped surface of the cantilevered arm to enter the first port of the adapter assembly, wherein insertion of a connector arrangement within the first port depresses the ramped surface, thereby pressing the button against the tactile pressure sensor.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15, further comprising an adapter dust cap, wherein the adapter dust cap and the ramped surface of the cantilevered arm are shaped and configured so that insertion of the adapter dust cap into the first port does not depress the cantilevered arm.

17. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the adapter dust cap is generally cylindrical in shape.

18. The connector assembly of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of additional tactile pressure sensors installed on the printed circuit board, wherein the frame member has multiple cantilevered arms, each arm being configured to flex in the first and second directions, each cantilevered arm also defining a ramped surface that protrudes in the first direction and a button that protrudes in the second direction, wherein the button of each cantilevered arms aligns with one of the additional tactile pressure sensors.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18, wherein the ramped surface of each cantilevered arm of the frame member is positioned intermediate two of the ports of the first adapter assembly.

20. A fiber panel system comprising:

a support frame defining at least one opening in which at least one panel module can be mounted, the support frame also defining at least one slot at a first side of the opening and at least one latching opening on a second side of the opening;

a plurality of panel modules mounted to the support frame, each panel module including a guide arrangement and a latching arrangement,

the guide arrangement including a base defining a first side and a second side, the guide arrangement including a handheld extending outwardly from the first side of the base, the guide arrangement including a guide member extending outwardly from the second side of the base, the guide member including an extension member and a stop flange coupled to the extension member and extending generally parallel with the base, the extension member being configured to slide within the slot defined in the support frame;

the latching arrangement including a base defining a first side and a second side, the base of the latching arrangement defining an opening in which a resilient tongue extends planar to the base, the resilient tongue includes a release tab and a latching stop, the latching arrangement also includes a securement member

21. The fiber panel system of claim 20, wherein an inner surface of the stop flange defines a ramped surface.

22. The fiber panel system of claim 20, wherein the guide arrangement is located at a first end of the panel module and the latching arrangement is located at a second end of the panel module.

23. The fiber panel system of claim 20, wherein a handhold extends outwardly from the first side of the base of the latching arrangement.

24. A method of determining whether a connector arrangement is retained in a connector assembly comprising:

removing a dust cap from a port defined in the connector assembly; and

inserting a connector arrangement within the port of the connector assembly, wherein inserting the connector arrangement includes;

camming a ramped surface of a spring board assembly to depress the ramped surface out of the port of the connector assembly, wherein the dust cap does not contact the ramped surface when the dust cap is positioned within the port;

depressing a portion of the spring board assembly toward a sensor installed within the connector assembly by depressing the ramped surface;

actuating the tactile pressure sensor by contacting the tactile pressure sensor with the depressed portion of the spring board assembly; and

triggering a status change in a status accumulation device by actuating the tactile pressure sensor.

25. A method of inserting a panel module into a support frame comprising:

providing a support frame defining at least one receiving opening having a longitudinal axis extending between a first side and a second side, the support frame also defining at least one slot that is continuous with the first side of the receiving opening and at least one latching opening defined at a second side of the receiving opening at a location spaced from the receiving opening;

providing a panel module including a guide arrangement and a latching arrangement;

laterally inserting the latching arrangement of the panel module laterally through the latching opening at the second side of the receiving opening;

aligning the guide arrangement with the slot at the first side of the receiving opening;

sliding the panel module longitudinally within the receiving opening toward the first side of the receiving opening so that the guide arrangement enters the slot; and

securing the panel module against longitudinal movement within the receiving opening.