Optical harness assembly and method

• US 7,515,797 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zephyr Photonics
• Original Assignee: Defense Photonics Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Stark, Jason Blain, Jackson, Bradley Scott, Lenz, Gadi
• Primary Examiner(s): Connelly Cushwa; Michelle R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peace; Rhonda S
• Application Number:
  US12/098,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20080187270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 385/101
• US Class Current: 385/101
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4281 the printed circuit boards being flexible in general H05K1/147
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4284 of optical modules with disconnectable electrical connectors latching arms for electrical connectors H01R13/627
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

An optical cable harness assembly and method are provided. The optical cable harness assembly includes at least one optical cable harness having a termination end; at least one electrical connector having connector pins; and at least one active connector conversion unit coupled between the termination end of the optical harness cable and the electrical connector. A method for retrofitting an optical harness assembly into an existing platform is disclosed. The method includes removing a legacy wiring harness; installing an optical harness assembly having electrical connectors and an active connector conversion unit; and testing the compatibility of connector pins of the electrical connector to the active connector conversion unit.

Claims

1. A method of retrofitting an optical cable harness assembly into an existing platform, the optical cable harness assembly having at least one optical cable harness having a termination end;

at least one electrical connector having connector pins for transporting electrical signals; and

at least one active connector conversion unit coupled between the termination end of the optical cable harness and the electrical connector;

the method comprising;

removing a legacy wiring harness;

installing the optical cable harness assembly; and

testing the compatibility of the connector pins of the electrical connector with the active connector conversion unit;

wherein testing comprises transmitting a data packet, detecting the data packet, and checking the cyclical redundancy check (CRC) for validity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, if the CRC is invalid, the method further comprises mapping the connector pins to the I/O ports of signal conditioning circuitry on the active connector conversion unit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrofitting electrical connectors that resemble the legacy electrical connectors into the platform.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the installing step comprises installing the active connector conversion units.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the active connector conversion units are connected to the electrical connectors of terminal equipment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing step comprises testing the compatibility in startup mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing step comprises testing the compatibility in continuous mode.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a failsafe mode for each function serviced by each of the active connector conversion units.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein during the testing step, if data is determined to be corrupt or invalid, then the method further comprises:

applying failsafe states to the output pins associated with data that was contained in the respective active connector conversion unit; and

mapping the connector pins to the I/O circuit boards of the active connector conversion unit.

10. A method of retrofitting an optical cable harness assembly into an existing platform, the optical cable harness assembly having at least one optical cable harness having a termination end;

at least one electrical connector having connector pins for transporting electrical signals; and

at least one active connector conversion unit coupled between the termination end of the optical cable harness and the electrical connector;

the method comprising;

removing a legacy wiring harness;

installing the optical cable harness assembly; and

testing the compatibility of the connector pins of the electrical connector with the active connector conversion unit;

wherein, if compatibility fails, then mapping respective connector pins to I/O ports of signal conditioning circuitry.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the mapping step comprises coupling a personality adaptor between the connector pins of each electrical connectors and the respective active connector conversion unit.

12. A method of retrofitting an optical cable harness assembly into an existing platform, the optical cable harness assembly having at least one optical cable harness having a termination end;

at least one electrical connector having connector pins for transporting electrical signals; and

at least one active connector conversion unit coupled between the termination end of the optical cable harness and the electrical connector;

the method comprising;

removing a legacy wiring harness;

installing the optical cable harness assembly;

testing the compatibility of the connector pins of the electrical connector with the active connector conversion unit; and

defining a failsafe mode for each function serviced by each of the active connector conversion units;

wherein during the testing step, if data is determined to be corrupt or invalid, then the method further comprises;

applying failsafe states to the output pins associated with data that was contained in the respective active connector conversion unit; and

mapping the connector pins to the I/O circuit boards of the active connector conversion unit.