Cable assembly having a flexible light pipe

• US 9,281,636 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Schmitt, Matthew Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US14/608,400
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/722 coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7172 Conduits for light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)

Abstract

A cable assembly includes a cable bundle extending between first and second cable ends. A first electrical connector is terminated to the first cable end and has first contacts defining a first mating interface. A second electrical connector is terminated to the second cable end and has second contacts defining a second mating interface. A flexible light pipe extends along the length of the cable bundle. The flexible light pipe has a first light pipe interface at a first end of the flexible light pipe and a second light pipe interface at a second end of the flexible light pipe. The first light pipe interface is at or beyond the first cable end for interfacing with a component associated with a first mating connector and the second light pipe interface is at or beyond the second cable end for interfacing with a component associated with a second mating connector.

Claims

1. A cable assembly comprising:

a cable bundle extending a length from a first cable end to an opposite second cable end, the cable bundle comprising a plurality of electrical wires within an outer jacket;

a first electrical connector terminated to the first cable end of the electrical cable, the first electrical connector having first contacts defining a first mating interface for mating with a first mating connector;

a second electrical connector terminated to the second cable end of the electrical cable, the second electrical connector having second contacts defining a second mating interface for mating with a second mating connector; and

a flexible light pipe that extends along the length of the cable bundle, the flexible light pipe having a first light pipe interface at a first end of the flexible light pipe, the flexible light pipe having a second light pipe interface at a second end of the flexible light pipe, the first light pipe interface being at or beyond the first cable end for interfacing with a component associated with the first mating connector, the second light pipe interface being at or beyond the second cable end for interfacing with a component associated with the second mating connector.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible light pipe is part of the cable bundle for at least part of the length of the cable bundle.

3. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible light pipe extends along at least a portion of the length interior of the outer jacket.

4. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible light pipe extends along at least a portion of the length exterior of the outer jacket.

5. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible light pipe exits the cable bundle at the first electrical connector for interfacing with the component associated with the first mating connector.

6. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible light pipe exits the cable bundle at the second electrical connector for interfacing with the component associated with the second mating connector.

7. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the flexible light pipe abuts against the component associated with the first mating connector when the first electrical connector is mated to the first mating connector to receive light from the component.

8. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible light pipe transmits light from the first end to the second end.

9. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the second mating connector includes a cage and a faceplate, the component includes a status indicator opening in the faceplate, the second end of the flexible light pipe is configured to extend through the cage to interface with the status indicator opening of the faceplate, the second light pipe interface emitting light indicative of a status of the second electrical connector.

10. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mating connector includes a board light pipe receiving light from a light emitting diode attached to a circuit board, the board light pipe defining the component associated with the first mating connector, the first end of the flexible light pipe being configured to abut against and receive light from the board light pipe.

11. A cable connector system comprising:

an electrical connector comprising a cage defining at least one port configured to receive a communication module therein, the cage having a faceplate at a front thereof having a status indicator opening in the faceplate, the electrical connector having a plurality of contacts defining a receptacle interface configured to communicatively couple with the communication module when plugged into the port; and

a cable assembly electrically coupled to the electrical connector and extending rearward of the cage, the cable assembly having a cable bundle comprising a plurality of electrical wires terminated to corresponding contacts of the electrical connector, the cable assembly having a flexible light pipe that extends along the cable bundle rearward of the cage, the flexible light pipe extending forward of the receptacle interface within the cage to the faceplate, the flexible light pipe having a light emitting end arranged at the status indicator opening in the faceplate to emit light indicative of a status of the electrical connector.

12. The cable connector system of claim 11, wherein the at least one port includes an upper port and a lower port with a channel therebetween, the flexible light pipe extending along the channel to the faceplate.

13. The cable connector system of claim 11, wherein the flexible light pipe extends through the receptacle interface.

14. The cable connector system of claim 11, wherein the cage extends between a front and a back, the faceplate being provided at the front, the receptacle interface being provided at the back, the cable assembly extending rearward from the back with the flexible light pipe extending from the cable assembly to the faceplate at the front.

15. The cable connector system of claim 11, wherein the flexible light pipe receives light from a light source remote from the electrical connector at an opposite end of the cable assembly.

16. A cable connector system comprising:

a circuit board having a light source mounted thereto;

a board connector mounted to the circuit board, the board connector having board contacts terminated to the circuit board;

a cable assembly coupled to the board connector, the cable assembly having an electrical connector electrically coupled to the board connector, the electrical connector having first contacts defining a mating interface for mating with the board contacts of the board connector, the cable assembly having a cable bundle extending from the electrical connector, the cable bundle comprising a plurality of electrical wires terminated to corresponding first contacts of the electrical connector, the cable assembly having a flexible light pipe that extends along the cable bundle, the flexible light pipe configured to receive the light emitted from the light source and transmit the light along the cable bundle to a remote location.

17. The cable connector system of claim 16, further comprising a board light pipe mounted to at least one of the circuit board or the board connector, the board light pipe having a first end receiving light from the light source, the board light pipe having a second end opposite the first end, the flexible light pipe arranged adjacent the second end of the board light pipe to receive light therefrom.

18. The cable connector system of claim 17, further comprising a cone at the second end receiving a light receiving end of the flexible light pipe.

19. The cable connector system of claim 16, wherein the flexible light pipe extend along an exterior of the electrical connector.

20. The cable connector system of claim 16, wherein the flexible light pipe extends through the electrical connector.