CONNECTOR DETECTION

• US 20140321810A1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Inventors: Leigh, Kevin B., Megason, George D.
• Application Number:
  US14/366,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20140321810A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/71
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• 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 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• 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: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence

Abstract

A connector module includes a detection circuit. The connector module may also include an alignment detector. In various examples, the detection circuit is to detect presence of a connector, and the alignment detector is to detect alignment of a plurality of ferrules within the connector module.

Claims

1. A connector module, comprising:

a first connector housing comprising;

a first plurality of ferrules;

a first presence detection circuit; and

an alignment detector;

a second connector housing couplable to the first connector housing, wherein the second connector housing comprises;

a second presence detection circuit, and

a second plurality of ferrules;

wherein the first presence detection circuit and the second presence detection circuit when coupled together indicate coupling to the first connector housing and the second connector housing, and the alignment detector indicates alignment of the first plurality of ferrules with the second plurality of ferrules.

2. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of ferrules and the second plurality of ferrules are coupled to fiber optic cables.

3. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the second connector housing further comprises a second alignment detector.

4. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the second connector housing further comprises:

an identifier to communicate identification data to the second connector housing.

5. The connector module of claim 4, wherein the identification data comprises at least one of a configuration of the first plurality of ferrules, a number of ferrules within the first plurality of ferrules, or a number of optical fibers in each of the first plurality of ferrules.

6. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the second connector housing further comprises:

an identifier to communicate identification data the first connector housing.

7. The connector module of claim 6, wherein the identifier comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device.

8. A system comprising;

a backplane including a plurality of back-plane optical connectors each having a plurality of ferrules and a presence detection circuit; and

a plurality of electronic devices removably coupled to the backplane connectors via an electronic device optical connector, wherein each electronic device optical connector includes another plurality of ferrules, another presence detection circuit, and an alignment detector.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the presence detection circuit indicates the presence of the electronic device optical connector when mated, and the another presence detection circuit indicates the presence of the backplane optical connector when mated.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the backplane optical connectors further includes another alignment detector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the alignment detector and the another alignment detector indicate alignment of the plurality of ferrules with the another plurality of ferrules.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the back-plane optical connectors further include an identifier to communicate identification data to the plurality of electronic devices.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic device optical connectors further include an identifier to communicate identification data to the back-plane.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, an electronic device for optical connection in a rack of the computing device, wherein the computing device includes an optical connector including a detection circuit and an alignment detector; and

indicating, by the computing device, the electronic device is communicatively coupled to the computing device based on the detection circuit and the alignment detector.

15. A method of claim 14, further comprising:

Indicating, by the electronic device, the electronic device is communicatively coupled to the computing device based on a detection circuit of the electronic device, the detection circuit of the electronic device being different than the detection circuit of the computing device.