Optical fiber cable tracing system

• US 6,456,768 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Incorporated (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fitel USA Corporation (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Inventors: Boncek, Raymond K, Pattillo, James C, Lampert, Norman R
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/690,744
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 385/100, 385/14, 385/16
• US Class Current: 385/100
• 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 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• 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 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

An optical cable tracing system is constructed using an optical/electrical (hybrid) cable 10 containing both optical and electrical transmission media. This cable provides desirably high bandwidth via optical fibers 15 while connection accuracy is provided via electrical wires 13, which are used to operate indicator lights 941 at one or both ends of the cable. A hybrid plug connector 300 terminates the cable at each end and includes a dielectric housing 20, 30 that encloses the optical fiber (glass or plastic), which extends through a front opening 21 in the housing. A single cantilever latch 22 is mounted on a top-side of the housing that is adapted to engage a mating jack receptacle 440 in a locking relationship. A conductor-holding apparatus is molded into the bottom side of the housing where it holds a number of insulated electrical conductors and metallic blade terminals 36 that pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with each of the conductors. The mating jack receptacle includes a row of spaced wire springs 449 at the entrance of the optical connecting portion of the receptacle. The wire springs either extend to an opposite side of the receptacle to provide electrical interconnection between a pair of hybrid plug connectors, or the wire springs are arrayed to fit into a printed wiring board 710 for interconnection with electrical circuitry 730 thereon.

Claims

1. An optical fiber cable tracing system comprising:

an optical receptacle affixed to a first mounting surface, the optical receptacle including a metallic conductor;

a first electrical circuit comprising a manually operated switch and a light emitting device, said circuit being electrically connected to the metallic conductor within the optical receptacle on the first mounting surface;

a jumper cable including an optical fiber and an electrical wire that extend between opposite ends of the cable and terminate in a plug connector at each end, each plug connector being configured to mate with the optical receptacle and to provide electrical interconnection between the electrical wire within the cable and the metallic conductor within the receptacle;

the plug connector at one end of the cable residing within the optical receptacle on the first mounting surface; and

wherein the manually operated switch has an active state and a normal state, and is configured to apply one voltage to the metallic conductor in its active state and to apply another voltage to the metallic conductor in its normal state.

2. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second mounting surface having an optical receptacle mounted thereon, the optical receptacle including a metallic conductor for transporting electrical signals;

a second electrical circuit comprising a manually operated switch and a light emitting device, said circuit being electrically connected to the metallic conductor within each optical receptacle on the second mounting surface;

the plug connector at the other end of the cable residing within the optical receptacle on the second mounting surface; and

wherein the manually operated switch of the second electrical circuit includes an active and a normal state, and is arranged to apply one voltage to the metallic conductor in its active state and to apply another voltage to the metallic conductor in its normal state.

3. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 2 wherein the first and second electrical circuits are substantially identical to each other.

4. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 3 wherein the light emitting devices of the first and second electrical circuits both emit light when either of the manually operated switches is in its active state, and neither of the light emitting devices emit light when the manually operated switches are both in their normal states.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein each electrical circuit comprises the series connection of the light emitting device, a current-limiting resistor and the first voltage to the metallic conductor;

said series connection being in parallel with the manually operated switch, which applies the second voltage to the metallic conductor in its active state and which is an open circuit in its normal state.

6. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 3 wherein only the light emitting device of the first electrical circuit emits light when the manually operated switch of the second electrical circuit is in its active state and the manually operated switch of the first electrical circuit is in its normal state.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the electrical circuit comprises the series combination of the light emitting device, a current-limiting resistor and the first voltage;

the manually operated switch being connected to the metallic conductor and configured to connect the series combination to the metallic conductor in its normal state or to connect the second voltage to the metallic conductor in its active state.

8. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 1 where the light emitting device is a light emitting diode.

9. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 8 wherein the light emitting diode is molded into the optical plug receptacle.

10. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 1 wherein the optical receptacle comprises a pair of back-to-back cavities that are axially aligned, each cavity of the pair including:

(i) a generally rectangular opening for receiving an optical plug, (ii) a circular opening that extends between the cavities along a longitudinal axis, and (iii) a retaining surface that is molded into a top surface of the cavity for holding the optical plug within the cavity, one of the cavities of the pair further including a number of metallic conductors that are positioned along a bottom surface of the cavity at the rectangular opening.

11. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 1 wherein the first and second mounting surfaces comprise separate panels.

12. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 1 wherein the first and second mounting surfaces comprise different portions of the same panel.

13. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second mounting surfaces comprises a printed wiring board.

14. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 1 wherein each mounting surface comprises a printed wiring board having a plurality of generally rectangular openings for receiving the optical receptacles, each printed wiring board having one or more holes adjacent to each opening for receiving the metallic conductors that extend from the optical receptacle.

15. The optical fiber cable tracing system of claim 1 wherein the cable comprises a single optical fiber and a plurality of insulated electrical conductors within a common plastic jacket.

16. A cross-connect panel having a plurality of hybrid receptacles mounted thereon, each receptacle comprising an optical port for receiving an optical plug and an electrical port for receiving an electrical plug, said electrical port including a metallic conductor that connects to the panel;

and

a plurality of substantially identical electrical circuits mounted on the panel, each circuit being associated with a different receptacle, each circuit comprising a light emitting device and a manually operated switch that has an active state and a normal state, the switch being configured to apply one voltage to the metallic conductor in its active state and to apply another voltage to the metallic conductor in its normal state.

17. The cross-connect panel of claim 16 wherein-the light emitting device is molded into the hybrid receptacle.

18. A system for identifying opposite ends of jumper cables that extend between first and second patch panels comprising:

first and second patch panels, each having a plurality of optical/electrical receptacles mounted thereon, each receptacle comprising an optical port for receiving an optical plug and an electrical port for receiving an electrical plug, said electrical port including a metallic conductor that connects to the panel;

a plurality of jumper cables that extend between the panels, each cable interconnecting a receptacle on the first patch panel with a corresponding receptacle on the second patch panel, each cable including an optical fiber and an electrical wire that terminate in a plug connector-at opposite ends of the cable, each plug connector being designed to mate with the optical port and to provide an electrical connection between the wire within the cable and the metallic conductor within the electrical port of the receptacle; and

a plurality of substantially identical circuits mounted on each panel, each circuit being associated with a different receptacle, each circuit including a light and a manually operated switch that has an active state and a normal state, wherein manual activation of a switch on the first patch panel causes the light at the corresponding receptacle on the second patch panel to turn on.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein manual activation of a switch on the first patch panel also causes the light in the associated circuit on the first patch panel to turn on.

20. A method of identifying opposite ends of a jumper cable that extends between a pair of mounting surfaces comprising:

providing first and second mounting surfaces, each having a hybrid receptacle mounted thereon, each receptacle comprising an optical port for receiving an optical plug and an electrical port for receiving an electrical plug, said electrical port including a metallic conductor that connects to the mounting surface;

extending the jumper cable between the first and second mounting surfaces to make optical and electrical connection to corresponding receptacles on each mounting surface, said cable including an optical fiber and an electrical wire; and

disposing substantially similar circuits on the first and second mounting surfaces, each circuit including a light and a manually operated switch, said circuits being designed such that manual activation of a switch on the first mounting surface causes the light at the corresponding receptacle on the second mounting surface to turn on.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first and second mounting surfaces reside on different panels.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein at least one of the first and second mounting surfaces comprises a printed wiring board.