Secure fiber optic network keyed connector assembly

• US 7,534,115 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Legrand DPC LLC (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Ortronics Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Rynaski, Chester, Murano, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US12/123,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20080260332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 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 communications connector system, comprising:

(a) at least one assembly defining (i) a front opening cavity adapted to accept a first mating connector; and

(ii) a rear opening cavity adapted to accept a second mating connector;

(b) at least one security feature positioned on a bottom surface of the front opening cavity adapted to prevent communication between the first mating connector and the second mating connector during insertion of an illegitimate connector;

wherein the at least one security feature includes;

(i) an inner door having a mating keying boss;

(ii) an outer door defining at least one aperture adapted to allow for a protruding keying boss to pass through the outer door to apply pressure to the mating keying boss; and

(iii) a torsion spring adapted to hold the outer door upright in the absence of external pressure; and

wherein the first mating connector hosts the protruding keying boss extending outwardly towards the security feature adapted to apply pressure to the mating keying boss of the inner door if the first mating connector is legitimately keyed.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

(i) the first mating connector and the second mating connector are fiber optic connectors adapted to optically communicate across an optical pathway of the at least one assembly; and

(ii) the optical pathway is blocked when the security feature is engaged.

3. A system according to claim 2, 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 mating connectors to communicate via the optical pathway.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the first mating connector includes a sweeping boss on a bottom edge of a front face of the first mating connector protruding outwardly towards the security feature and adapted to apply pressure to the security feature during legitimate connector insertion.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the security feature is positioned recessed within the front opening cavity.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the inner door includes a main locking boss adapted to substantially engage a main locking slot defined on the outer door and wherein engagement of the main locking boss and the main locking slot prevents rotation of the security feature during illegitimate connector insertion.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein legitimate connector insertion will apply pressure on the mating keying boss of the inner door by the protruding keying boss of the first mating connector passing through the aperture of the outer door causing the main locking boss to disengage from the main locking slot allowing the security feature to rotate and the first mating connector and the second mating connector to communicate.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the outer door further defines a relief slot adapted to allow for the main locking boss to fit neatly in a back opening of the outer door during rotation of the security feature.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the outer door further defines a pass through aperture adapted to prevent damaging a ferrule included on the first mating connector during legitimate or illegitimate connector insertion.

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

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

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the assembly and the corresponding matching connector are color coded to match colors to provide for visual guidance to a network user.

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

14. A secure communications network system, comprising:

a plurality of assemblies wherein each assembly

(a) defines (i) a front opening cavity adapted to accept a first mating connector; and

(ii) a rear opening cavity adapted to accept a second mating connector;

(b) includes at least one security feature positioned on a bottom surface of the front opening cavity adapted to prevent communication between the first mating connector and the second mating connector during insertion of an illegitimate connector;

wherein the security feature includes;

(i) an inner door having a mating keying boss;

(ii) an outer door defining at least one aperture adapted to allow for a protruding keying boss to pass through the outer door to apply pressure to the mating keying boss; and

(iii) a torsion spring adapted to hold the outer door upright in the absence of external pressure; and

wherein the first mating connector hosts the protruding keying boss extending outwardly towards the security feature adapted to apply pressure to the mating keying boss of the inner door if the first mating connector is legitimately keyed.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of assemblies is colored a designated color corresponding to a matching colored legitimate connector providing visual guidance to a network user.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the first mating connector and the second mating connector are fiber optic connectors adapted to optically communicate across an optical pathway of the assembly, wherein the optical pathway is blocked when the security feature is engaged.

17. A system according to claim 16, 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 mating connectors to communicate via the optical pathway.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the inner door includes a main locking boss adapted to substantially engage a main locking slot defined on the outer door and wherein the engaging of the main locking boss and the main locking slot prevents the rotation of the security feature during illegitimate connector insertion.

19. A method for securing a communications network system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of assemblies wherein each assembly includes a security feature, each security feature (i) includes an inner door, an outer door and a torsion spring, and (ii) is positioned on a bottom surface of an opening cavity defined within the assembly adapted to accept a unique keyed mating connector;

(b) uniquely keying each security feature to include a keying boss on the inner door physically corresponding to the unique keyed mating connector; and

(c) color coding each assembly and unique mating connector wherein matching colors will legitimately mate and disengage the security feature to allow communication with a receiving mating connecter inserted into a rear cavity defined within the assembly.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the keyed mating connector and the receiving mating connector are fiber optic communication connectors.

21. A method for securing a communications network system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of assemblies wherein each assembly includes a security feature, each security feature;

(i) includes an inner door, and (ii) is positioned on a bottom surface of an opening cavity defined within the assembly adapted to accept a unique keyed mating connector;

(b) uniquely keying each security feature to include a mating keying aperture defined on the inner door physically corresponding to the unique keyed mating connector; and

(c) color coding each assembly and unique mating connector wherein matching colors will legitimately mate and disengage the security feature to allow communication with a receiving mating connecter inserted into a rear cavity defined within the assembly.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the keyed mating connector and the receiving mating connector are fiber optic communication connectors.