Secure fiber optic network keyed connector assembly

• US 7,390,203 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palligistics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ortronics Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Murano, Adam, Rynaski, Chester
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US11/546,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 439/138, 385/70, 385/78, 385/60, 385/134, 385/135
• US Class Current: 439/138
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for securing a keyed fiber optic network assembly are provided. A typical network system includes an assembly having a security feature and adapted to facilitate fiber optic communication between two mating fiber optic connectors. The security feature is uniquely keyed to disengaged when mated with a corresponding uniquely keyed connector. The security feature includes at least an inner door and a spring and is adapted to prevent optical communication and mating with a receiving connector during illegitimate connector insertion. A typical network includes a plurality of assemblies each having a uniquely keyed security feature. Each of the plurality of assemblies is color coded to match with a legitimate color coded connector to provide guidance to a network user. The connector and the security feature are uniquely keyed through unique positioning of protruding bosses.

Claims

1. A secure connector system comprising:

an assembly including;

(i) a front opening cavity;

(ii) a rear opening cavity; and

(iii) a security feature;

wherein, at least the front opening cavity is adapted to accept a first keyed mating connector having a protruding mating keying boss;

wherein, the security feature is positioned on a bottom surface of the front opening cavity and prevents communication between two illegitimate keyed mating connectors and allows communication between two legitimate keyed mating connectors by the mechanism of an inner door standing vertical when engaged and rotating downward when disengaged, the inner door further defining a mating keying sloped aperture adapted to accept the protruding mating keying boss of the first keyed mating connector when the first keyed mating connector is a legitimate keyed mating connector; and

wherein, the protruding mating keying boss of the first keyed mating connector disengages the security feature when the first keyed mating connector is a legitimate keyed mating connector.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the security feature further includes:

(i) two die cast boss elements attached to the sides of the inner door and adapted to slide into two channels further defined on the bottom surface of the front opening cavity;

(ii) a cam shaped element attached to a rear side of the inner door;

(iii) a leaf spring interacting with the cam shaped element wherein the leaf spring applies pressure to the cam shaped element holding the inner door upright in the absence of external pressure; and

(iv) a locking boss extending outwardly on a front face of the inner door in contact with a lip feature included on the opening cavity of the assembly and adapted to prevent rotation of the inner door during illegitimate keyed mating connector insertion.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the protruding mating keying boss of the first keyed mating connector extends outwardly towards the security feature and is adapted to apply pressure to the mating keying sloped aperture of the inner door when the first keyed mating connector is a legitimate keyed mating connector.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the assembly further defines an optical pathway, the optical pathway being blocked when the security feature is engaged, wherein the rear opening cavity is adapted to accept a second keyed mating connector, and wherein the first and second keyed mating connectors are fiber optic connectors adapted to optically communicate across the optical pathway of the assembly when the first and second keyed mating connectors are legitimate keyed mating connectors.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the security feature is disengaged during legitimate connector insertion and will rotate a sufficient degree and lay flush and substantially parallel within a bottom surface cavity further defined in the assembly to allow for the first and second keyed mating connectors to communicate via the optical pathway when the first and second keyed mating connectors are legitimate keyed mating connectors.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the security feature is disengaged when a protruding mating keying boss of a legitimate keyed mating connector applies pressure to the mating keying sloped aperture causing the inner door to transition downward into two channels defined on the bottom surface of the front opening cavity disengaging the locking door.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the inner door rotates downwardly during insertion of a legitimate keyed mating connector resulting from pressure being applied to the inner door from a front face of the legitimate keyed mating connector.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the security feature is positioned recessed within the front opening cavity.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the mating keying sloped aperture of the inner door is uniquely positioned on the inner door to effectively mate with a matching protruding keying boss of a legitimate keyed mating connector.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the inner door defines a plurality of locations to uniquely position the mating keying sloped aperture.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the assembly and the first keyed mating connector are color coded to match colors when the first keyed mating connector is a legitimate keyed mating connector to provide for visual guidance to a network user.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the assembly further includes a second security feature positioned on a bottom surface of the rear opening cavity.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the security feature her includes:

(i) a rotating boss having two extending portions attached on a bottom portion of the inner door adapted to slide into two channels further defined on the bottom surface of the opening cavity and rotate downward during legitimate connector insertion, wherein each extending portion defines a cut-out portion adapted to engage an inner cavity key adapted to further secure the inner door in a substantially vertical position;

(ii) two locking flanges included on a top portion of the inner door adapted to engage locking slots defined on a top portion of the inner cavity; and

(iii) a leaf spring interacting with the rotating boss wherein the leaf spring applies pressure to the rotating boss holding the inner door upright in the absence of external pressure.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the security feature is disengaged when a protruding mating keying boss of a legitimate mating keying connector applies pressure to the mating keying sloped aperture causing the inner door to transition downward into two channels defined on the bottom surface of the front opening cavity disengaging the locking flanges.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the inner door further defines a pass through aperture adapted to prevent damaging a ferrule included on the first keyed mating connector during legitimate or illegitimate connector insertion.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the inner door further includes a security obstruction feature mounted with respect to a rear side of the inner door extending upwardly with respect to the bottom surface of the front opening cavity positioned such that optical communication is obstructed between two inserting connectors when the inner door is standing vertical.

17. A secure communications network system, comprising:

a plurality of assemblies wherein each assembly includes (i) a front opening cavity;

(ii) a rear opening cavity; and

(iii) a security feature;

wherein, at least the front opening cavity is adapted to accept a first keyed mating connector having a protruding mating keying boss;

wherein, the security feature is positioned on a bottom surface of the front opening cavity and prevents communication between two illegitimate keyed mating connectors and allows communication between two legitimate keyed mating connectors by the mechanism of an inner door standing vertical when engaged and rotating downward when disengaged, the inner door further defining a mating keying sloped aperture adapted to accept the mating keying boss of the first keyed mating connector when the first keyed mating connector is a legitimate keyed mating connector; and

wherein, the protruding mating keying boss associated with the first keyed mating connector disengages the security feature when the first keyed mating connector is a legitimate connector.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein each assembly of the plurality thereof is colored a designated color corresponding to a matching colored legitimate keyed mating connector providing visual guidance to a network user.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the assembly further defines an optical pathway, the optical pathway being blocked when the security feature is engaged, wherein the rear opening cavity is adapted to accept a second keyed mating connector, and wherein the first and second keyed mating connectors are fiber optic connectors adapted to optically communicate across the optical pathway of the assembly when the first and second keyed mating connectors are legitimate keyed mating connectors.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the security feature is disengaged during legitimate connector insertion and will rotate a sufficient degree and lay flush and substantially parallel within a bottom surface cavity further defined in the assembly to allow for the first and second keyed mating connectors to communicate via the optical pathway when the first and second keyed mating connectors are legitimate keyed mating connectors.

21. A system according to claim 17, wherein the security feature includes:

(i) two die cast boss elements attached to the sides of the inner door and adapted to slide into two channels further defined on the bottom surface of the opening cavity;

(ii) a cam shaped element attached to a rear side of the inner door;

(iii) a leaf spring interacting with the cam shaped element wherein the leaf spring applies pressure to the cam shaped element holding the inner door upright in the absence of external pressure; and

(iv) a locking boss extending outwardly on a front face of the inner door in contact with a lip feature included on the opening cavity of the assembly and adapted to prevent rotation of the inner door during illegitimate connector insertion.

22. A system according to claim 17, wherein the protruding mating keying boss of the first keyed mating connector extends outwardly towards the security feature and is adapted to apply pressure to the mating keying sloped aperture of the inner door if the first keyed mating connector is a legitimate keyed mating connector.