Managed connectivity in fiber optic systems and methods thereof

• US 8,596,882 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Smrha, Mark, Schroeder, Michael D., Gunderson, Michael, Loch, Vern
• Primary Examiner(s): PENG, CHARLIE YU
• Application Number:
  US12/905,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20110116748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 385/76
• US Class Current: 385/76
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• 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 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

A fiber optic connector arrangement includes a printed circuit board coupled to a connector housing. The printed circuit board includes a memory storage device that is configured to store physical layer information pertaining to the fiber optic connector arrangement. The printed circuit board also defines contacts that are electrically coupled to the memory storage device to enable the physical layer information to be read from the memory storage device by a media reading interface. A connector assembly includes at least one adapter assembly; a printed circuit board; and a media reading interface. The connector assembly also may include a tactile pressure sensor. The adapter assembly defines at least a first port and a second port that are configured to connect optical fibers of two connector arrangements. One or more connector assemblies can be mounted to a fiber panel system.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a housing defining a stepped profile along a longitudinal axis of the housing;

a plurality of adapter assemblies mounted within the housing, at least one adapter assembly is accommodated within the housing at each step of the profile, each adapter assembly defining at least a first port and a second port that are configured to connect optical fibers terminated by two connector arrangements;

a printed circuit board mounted within the housing;

a first media reading interface installed on and electrically coupled to the printed circuit board, the media reading interface being located adjacent the first port of a first of the adapter assemblies;

a plurality of tactile pressure sensors installed on the printed circuit board, each tactile pressure sensor being associated with the first port of a respective one of the adapter assemblies; and

a spring board assembly positioned between the adapter assemblies and the printed circuit board, the spring board assembly including a body having a plurality of lever arms that align with the tactile pressure sensors so that when a connector arrangement is inserted into the first port of any of the adapter assemblies, the spring board assembly is configured to actuate the associated tactile pressure sensor.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board includes a card edge interface defined along one end of the printed circuit board to connect the printed circuit board to a physical layer management network.

3. A connector assembly comprising:

a housing including a first portion and a second portion that is configured to secure to the first portion;

a plurality of first adapter assemblies mounted within the first portion of the housing, each first adapter assembly defining at least a first port and a second port that are configured to connect optical fibers terminated by two connector arrangements;

a plurality of second adapter assemblies mounted within the second portion of the housing, each second adapter assembly defining at least a first port and a second port that are configured to connect optical fibers terminated by two connector arrangements;

a printed circuit board mounted within the housing between the first and second adapter assemblies, the printed circuit board including a first side facing the first adapter assemblies and an oppositely-facing second side that faces the second adapter assemblies;

a first media reading interface installed on the first side of the printed circuit board, the first media reading interface being located adjacent one of the ports of one of the first adapter assemblies; and

a second media reading interface installed on the second side of the printed circuit board, the second media reading interface being located adjacent one of the ports of one of the second adapter assemblies.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the printed circuit board defines a card-edge connector.

5. The connector assembly of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of additional media reading interfaces installed on the printed circuit board, each additional media reading interface being located adjacent one of the ports of one of the adapter assemblies.

6. A connector assembly comprising:

a housing enclosing at least a first adapter assembly, the first adapter assembly defining a plurality of first ports and a plurality of second ports, the first and second ports being configured to connect optical fibers terminated by connector arrangements;

a printed circuit board mounted within the housing adjacent the first adapter assembly;

at least a first tactile pressure sensor installed on the printed circuit board adjacent at least one of the first ports of the first adapter assembly; and

a spring board assembly positioned within the housing between the first adapter assembly and the printed circuit board, the spring board assembly including a frame member having at least one cantilevered arm that is configured to flex in a first direction and a second direction, the cantilevered arm defining a ramped surface that protrudes in the first direction and a button that protrudes in the second direction, the spring board assembly being arranged on the printed circuit board to align the button with the tactile pressure sensor and to align the ramped surface with the at least one port of the first adapter assembly.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the adapter assembly defines an opening configured to enable the ramped surface of the cantilevered arm to enter the first port of the adapter assembly, wherein insertion of a connector arrangement within the first port depresses the ramped surface, thereby pressing the button against the tactile pressure sensor.

8. The connector assembly of claim 7, further comprising an adapter dust cap, wherein the adapter dust cap and the ramped surface of the cantilevered arm are shaped and configured so that insertion of the adapter dust cap into the first port does not depress the cantilevered arm.

9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the adapter dust cap is generally cylindrical in shape.

10. The connector assembly of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of additional tactile pressure sensors installed on the printed circuit board, wherein the frame member has multiple cantilevered arms, each arm being configured to flex in the first and second directions, each cantilevered arm also defining a ramped surface that protrudes in the first direction and a button that protrudes in the second direction, wherein the button of each cantilevered arms aligns with one of the additional tactile pressure sensors.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the ramped surface of each cantilevered arm of the frame member is positioned intermediate two of the ports of the first adapter assembly.

12. A method of determining whether a connector arrangement is retained in a port of a connector assembly into which a ramped surface of a spring board assembly is biased, comprising:

removing a dust cap from the port defined in the connector assembly without affecting a position of the ramped surface of the spring board assembly; and

inserting a connector arrangement within the port of the connector assembly, wherein inserting the connector arrangement includes;

camming the ramped surface of the spring board assembly to depress the ramped surface out of the port of the connector assembly;

depressing a portion of the spring board assembly toward a tactile pressure sensor installed within the connector assembly by depressing the ramped surface;

actuating the tactile pressure sensor by contacting the tactile pressure sensor with the depressed portion of the spring board assembly; and

triggering a status change in a status accumulation device by actuating the tactile pressure sensor.