Optical plug-type connection

• US 6,375,362 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Stoll, Detlef, Richter, Alexander, Jaeger, Hubert, Bock, Harald, Leisching, Patrick, Heiles, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wood, Kevin S
• Application Number:
  US09/564,231
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 385/57, 385/62, 385/69, 385/70, 385/75, 385/81, 385/101, 385/135, 385/56, 385/83, 385/84
• US Class Current: 385/75
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3827 Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• 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

Abstract

In an optical plug-type connection between two optical conductors having an optical terminal which receives an optical plug-type member, an electrical connection is provided for verifying that the optical plug-type connection has been made and/or released. This verification reduces the likelihood of an optical plug-type connection being erroneously acquired in the network management system and, thus, significantly reduces problems in locating errors in the optical communication system.

Claims

1. An optical plug-type connection between two optical conductors, each optical conductor having an optical terminal, said plug-type connection including an electrical connection being provided for verifying the formation of the optical plug-type connection so that the configuration of the optical plug-type connection is indicated in a control unit of an optical network element and a network management system with the aid of the electrical connection, said optical plug-type connection including locking means for locking an optical plug element and an electrical plug element in an opto-electrical terminal, said locking means being controlled by said control unit.

2. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection is created and interrupted with the aid of an optical plug-type connection approximately at the same time.

3. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 1, wherein an electrical connecting conductor with plug elements is carried with an optical plug-type connection.

4. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 1, wherein an electrical conductor with cooperating plug elements is respectively carried with an optical conductor, which has optical plug-type connectors.

5. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection between the electrical conductor is created by means of an electrical connecting conductor in the plugged status of the optical plug-type connection.

6. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for the purpose of transmitting a configuration signal via the electrical connection, whereby a transmitted configuration signal indicates a condition of the optical plug-type connection and actuates a display to show said condition.

7. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 6, which includes means for the line-oriented concentration of the configuration signals given at least one optical plug-type connection respectively connecting two optical conductors.

8. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires, stores and evaluates transmitted configuration signals and with at least one plug-type connection respectively connecting two optical conductors, said unit providing an indication of the status of said plug-type connections.

9. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 8, which includes means for a line-oriented concentration of the configuration signals given at least one optical plug-type connection respectively connecting two optical connectors.

10. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 1, wherein the optical connection is provided in a network element of an optical communication system.

11. An optical plug-type connection according to claim 1, which includes an illuminated display for a terminal receiving the plug-type connection for indicating the status of the connection.

12. A method for releasing and plugging an optical plug-type connection, said method comprising providing a plug-type connection having a terminal with locking means, releasing said locking means to enable plugging a connection into said terminal, and then sensing the plugged-in connection in said terminal and actuating the locking means to lock the plugged-in connection in said terminal, then deactivating the locking means to allow removal of the plugged-in connection from the terminal and then actuating the locking means to close the terminal and prevent further insertion of a plug-in connection.

13. A method according to claim 12, which includes providing an illuminated display and actuating said display to indicate the terminal for receiving the plugged-in connection and during the step of removing the connection, illuminating the display to indicate the terminal in which the plugged-in connection is to be removed.