Ruggedized fiber optic/electrical connection system
First Claim
1. A fiber optic and electrical connection system comprising:
- a fiber optic cable including first and second strength members that are electrically conductive, an optical fiber, and a cable jacket positioned around the first and the second strength members and the optical fiber;
a ruggedized fiber optic connector terminating an end of the fiber optic cable, the ruggedized fiber optic connector including a connector housing with a first end for receiving the first and the second strength members and a second opposite end with a plug portion, a ferrule mounted to the plug portion and terminating the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable, a first electrical conductor electrically connected with the first strength member, a second electrical conductor electrically connected with the second strength member, a coupling nut rotatably mounted around the connector housing, and a sealing member mounted around the connector housing between the coupling nut and the second end of the connector housing; and
a ruggedized fiber optic adapter including an adapter housing with a first end defining a ruggedized port and an opposite second end defining a non-ruggedized port, a ferrule sleeve within the adapter housing adapted to receive the ferrule of the ruggedized fiber optic connector and accessible from both the ruggedized and the non-ruggedized ports, a third electrical conductor including a first contact accessible from the ruggedized port and a second contact positioned outside the adapter housing, and a fourth electrical conductor including a third contact accessible from the ruggedized port and a fourth contact positioned outside the adapter housing;
wherein the ruggedized port of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter is configured to receive the plug portion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector, the ruggedized port including internal threads that threadingly receive external threads of the coupling nut, and the ruggedized port including a sealing surface that engages the sealing member of the ruggedized fiber optic connector when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully connected to the ruggedized fiber optic adapter; and
wherein the first contact of the third electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter electrically contacts the first electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic connector and the second contact of the fourth electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter electrically contacts the second electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic connector when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully connected to the ruggedized fiber optic adapter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic and electrical connection system includes a fiber optic cable, a ruggedized fiber optic connector, a ruggedized fiber optic adapter, and a fiber optic enclosure. The cable includes one or more electrically conducting strength members. The connector, the adapter, and the enclosure each have one or more electrical conductors. The cable is terminated by the connector with the conductors of the connector in electrical communication with the strength members. The conductors of the connector electrically contact the conductors of the adapter when the connector and the adapter are mechanically connected. And, the conductors of the adapter electrically contact the conductors of the enclosure when the adapter is mounted on the enclosure.
146 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fiber optic and electrical connection system comprising:
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a fiber optic cable including first and second strength members that are electrically conductive, an optical fiber, and a cable jacket positioned around the first and the second strength members and the optical fiber; a ruggedized fiber optic connector terminating an end of the fiber optic cable, the ruggedized fiber optic connector including a connector housing with a first end for receiving the first and the second strength members and a second opposite end with a plug portion, a ferrule mounted to the plug portion and terminating the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable, a first electrical conductor electrically connected with the first strength member, a second electrical conductor electrically connected with the second strength member, a coupling nut rotatably mounted around the connector housing, and a sealing member mounted around the connector housing between the coupling nut and the second end of the connector housing; and a ruggedized fiber optic adapter including an adapter housing with a first end defining a ruggedized port and an opposite second end defining a non-ruggedized port, a ferrule sleeve within the adapter housing adapted to receive the ferrule of the ruggedized fiber optic connector and accessible from both the ruggedized and the non-ruggedized ports, a third electrical conductor including a first contact accessible from the ruggedized port and a second contact positioned outside the adapter housing, and a fourth electrical conductor including a third contact accessible from the ruggedized port and a fourth contact positioned outside the adapter housing; wherein the ruggedized port of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter is configured to receive the plug portion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector, the ruggedized port including internal threads that threadingly receive external threads of the coupling nut, and the ruggedized port including a sealing surface that engages the sealing member of the ruggedized fiber optic connector when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully connected to the ruggedized fiber optic adapter; and wherein the first contact of the third electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter electrically contacts the first electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic connector and the second contact of the fourth electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter electrically contacts the second electrical conductor of the ruggedized fiber optic connector when the ruggedized fiber optic connector is fully connected to the ruggedized fiber optic adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fiber optic and electrical connection system comprising:
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a fiber optic cable including first and second electrical conductors, an optical fiber, and a cable jacket positioned around the first and the second electrical conductors and the optical fiber; a fiber optic connector terminating an end of the fiber optic cable, the fiber optic connector including a connector housing with a first end for receiving the first and the second electrical conductors of the fiber optic cable and a second opposite end with a plug portion, a ferrule mounted to the plug portion and terminating the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable, a first contacting portion included on an exterior of the plug portion, the first contacting portion electrically connected with the first electrical conductor of the fiber optic cable, and a second contacting portion included on the exterior of the plug portion, the second contacting portion electrically connected with the second electrical conductor of the fiber optic cable; and a fiber optic adapter including an adapter housing with a first end defining a first port and an opposite second end defining a second port, a ferrule sleeve within the adapter housing adapted to receive the ferrule of the fiber optic connector and accessible from both the first and the second ports, a third contacting portion included in the first port electrically connected with a fourth contacting portion positioned on an exterior of the adapter housing, and a fifth contacting portion included in the first port electrically connected with a sixth contacting portion positioned on the exterior of the adapter housing; wherein the first port of the fiber optic adapter is configured to receive the plug portion of the fiber optic connector; and wherein the first contacting portion included on the exterior of the plug portion electrically contacts the third contacting portion included in the first port and the second contacting portion included on the exterior of the plug portion electrically contacts the fifth contacting portion included in the first port when the fiber optic connector is fully connected to the fiber optic adapter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification