Remote socket apparatus

• US 9,223,336 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Petersen, Kurt H., Benson, Paul H., LeBlanc, Stephen Paul, Le Van-Etter, Laylonie L., Shoemaker, Curtis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC K
• Application Number:
  US13/473,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20120295486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135, 398/45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4448 Electro-optic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/445 with lateral pivoting cover
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/475 Mechanical aspects of installing cables in ducts or the like for buildings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/00 Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/305 Mounting by adhesive material
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring

Abstract

A remote socket apparatus comprises a socket to receive a remote electronics unit. The socket is configured to house multiple media to connect to remote electronics housed in the remote electronics unit. The socket includes a socket interface configured to mate with a remote electronics unit interface. At least one of the socket and remote electronics unit further includes an actuation mechanism configured to connect the multiple media simultaneously. The remote socket apparatus can be utilized in a network that provides in-building wireless (IBW) communications and in a converged network that also provides wired in-building telecommunications.

Claims

1. A remote socket apparatus, comprising:

a socket to receive a remote electronics unit, wherein the socket is configured to house multiple media to connect to remote electronics housed in the remote electronics unit, wherein the multiple media includes one or more insulated copper wires for providing power to the remote electronics unit, cabling for RF signal distribution, and cabling for RF signal transmission to antennas, the socket including a socket interface configured to mate with a remote electronics unit interface, wherein at least one of the socket and remote electronics unit further includes an actuation mechanism configured to connect the multiple media simultaneously in a single action.

2. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cabling for RF signal transmission to antennas comprises at least one of one or more coaxial cables, one or more twin-axial cables and one or more twin lead cables.

3. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cabling for RF signal distribution comprises at least one of one or more optical fibers, one or more twisted pair wires, and one or more coaxial cables.

4. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cabling for RF signal distribution is provided from horizontal cabling accessed at the socket location.

5. The remote socket apparatus of claim 4, wherein the socket is mounted overtop the horizontal cabling.

6. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket includes a cover and a generally planar support plate that is mountable to a wall.

7. The remote socket apparatus of claim 6, wherein the actuation mechanism is disposed in the socket and comprises a pivoting support bar structure coupled to extendable guide rails configured to engage the remote electronics unit interface.

8. The remote socket apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuation mechanism lowers the extendable guide rails when the support bar structure is moved away from the support plate.

9. The remote socket apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuation mechanism raises the extendable guide rails when the support bar structure is moved towards the support plate.

10. The remote socket apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuation mechanism lowers the extendable guide rails when pivoting arms disposed opposite one another are pulled in a direction apart from each other in a plane parallel to the support plate.

11. The remote socket apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuation mechanism raises the extendable guide rails when pivoting arms disposed opposite one another are pushed in a direction toward each other in a plane parallel to the support plate.

12. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a slack storage structure supported by the actuation mechanism, the slack storage structure configured to store and route excess lengths of optical fibers.

13. The remote socket apparatus of claim 12, wherein the slack storage structure comprises a plurality of slack storage reels supported on a rotatable frame.

14. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket interface comprises a multi-piece structure that includes an interface body supported by an interface backbone, the interface body having a plurality of ports to receive multiple media connectors.

15. The remote socket apparatus of claim 14, wherein the interface body is formed from a molded plastic and the interface backbone is formed from a metal.

16. The remote socket apparatus of claim 14, wherein the socket interface body includes at least one coaxial connector having a coaxial cable coupled to a distributed RF antenna.

17. The remote socket apparatus of claim 16, wherein the coaxial cable comprises an adhesive-backed cable.

18. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more copper wires are coupled to horizontal cabling via a power tap and one or more power connectors disposed on the socket interface.

19. The remote socket apparatus of claim 4, wherein the cabling for RF signal distribution comprises a plurality of optical fibers, the optical fibers being terminated via field terminated optical connectors.

20. The remote socket apparatus of claim 19, wherein the field terminated optical connectors comprise LC connectors disposed in an LC connector adapter mounted in the socket interface.

21. The remote socket apparatus of claim 20, wherein the LC connector adapter is secured to the interface via lead-in mount members having a tapered construction for guiding approaching LC connectors into the LC connector adapter during a connection process.

22. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote electronics unit comprises a remote radio circuit for wireless signal distribution.

23. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote electronics unit comprises one of a wireless access point for Wi-Fi transmission and a low power wireless sensor.

24. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote electronics unit interface comprises a multi-piece structure that includes an interface body supported by an interface backbone, the interface body having a plurality of ports to receive multiple media connectors.

25. The remote socket apparatus of claim 24, wherein the interface body is formed from a molded plastic and the interface backbone is formed from a metal.

26. The remote socket apparatus of claim 7, wherein the remote electronics unit interface comprises engagement slots located near edges of the remote electronics unit interface, each engagement slot configured to receive an engagement pin disposed on an end of the extendable guide rail.

27. The remote socket apparatus of claim 22, wherein the remote electronics unit comprises a remote electronics unit cover to enclose the remote electronics unit, wherein the remote electronics unit cover includes a plurality of vents to permit air passage in and out of the remote electronics unit.

28. The remote socket apparatus of claim 22, wherein the remote electronics unit comprises a support plate to support the remote electronics.

29. The remote socket apparatus of claim 28, further comprising guide fingers extending from a top portion of the support plate to provide an installer with a gross alignment prior to actuating a connection.

30. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism is disposed in the remote electronics unit.

31. The remote socket apparatus of claim 30, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a folding arm structure coupled to extending guide rails configured to engage the socket interface.

32. The remote socket apparatus of claim 22, wherein, when the remote electronics unit interface is fully connected to the socket interface, the remote radio circuit is connected to one or more distributed RF antennas, one or more RF signal carriers, and one or more power lines.

33. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a central guide pin disposed in a central portion of the socket interface, the central guide pin configured to be received by a central guide port formed in the remote electronics unit interface, the central guide pin configured to prevent a sideways slide of the interfaces with respect to each other during connection.

34. The remote socket apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the socket interface and the remote electronics unit interface includes a small, pluggable optical-to-electrical transceiver.

35. The socket of claim 1, wherein the socket contains an integrated antenna that transmits or receives wireless signals.

36. The socket of claim 1, wherein the socket interface includes a guide mechanism extending from a mating surface of the socket interface, the guide mechanism including resilient member.

37. The socket of claim 1, wherein at least one of the socket interface and remote electronics interface includes a keying feature to prevent incompatible electronics units from being mated at the remote socket.

38. A socket for receiving a remote electronics unit having a remote electronics unit interface, comprising:

a socket interface having a plurality of ports to receive a plurality of connectors that accommodate different types of media, wherein the different types of media includes one or more insulated copper wires for providing power to the remote electronics unit, optical fiber cabling for RF signal distribution; and

cabling for RF signal transmission to antennas;

means for supporting the socket interface in the socket; and

means for connecting the multiple connectors disposed in the socket interface to corresponding connectors disposed in the remote electronics unit interface simultaneously in a single action.