Optical assemblies with managed connectivity

• US 9,285,552 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Connectivity UK Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.), CommScope Connectivity UK Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Marcouiller, Thomas, Taylor, Christopher, Pfarr, John T., Bolster, Kristofer, Bran de Leon, Oscar Fernando, Mattson, Loren J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak, Sung
• Application Number:
  US14/169,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20140219614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector 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 6/4261 Packages with mounting structures to be pluggable or detachable, e.g. having latches or rails
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/428 containing printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44526 Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/728 Coupling devices without an insulating housing provided on the edge of the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An adapter block assembly includes an adapter block, a circuit board arrangement, and a cover attached to the adapter block so that the circuit board arrangement is held to the adapter block by the cover. Contact assemblies can be disposed between the adapter block and the circuit board arrangement. The cover can be latched, heat staked, or otherwise secured to the adapter block. Each component of the adapter block assembly can include one or more parts (e.g., multiple adapter blocks, multiple circuit boards, and/or multiple cover pieces).

Claims

1. An optical adapter block assembly comprising:

(a) an adapter block defining a plurality of ports, the adapter block defining a plurality of apertures associated with the ports;

(b) a plurality of contact assemblies disposed in the apertures of the adapter block so that portions of each contact assembly extend into an interior of the adapter block;

(c) a circuit board arrangement having a first side and a second side, the first side including circuit board components and the second side being configured to seat on the adapter block, the second side also being configured to electrically connect to the contact assemblies disposed in the apertures of the adapter block, the circuit board arrangement including an electrical connector having pins that extend outwardly from the second side of the circuit board arrangement;

(d) a cover configured to seat on the first side of the circuit board arrangement, the cover being attached to the adapter block so that the circuit board arrangement is held to the adapter block by the cover;

(e) a second adapter block defining a plurality of ports, the second adapter block defining a plurality of apertures associated with the ports; and

(f) a joining member configured to couple together the adapter block and the second adapter block, the joining member defining at least one shroud through which the pins of the electrical connector extend.

2. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is latched to the adapter block.

3. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 2, wherein the adapter block includes latching arms having latching hooks;

and wherein the cover includes openings sized to receive the latching hooks at first sides of the openings and to retain the latching hooks at second sides of the openings.

4. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is attached to the adapter block using a plurality of heat stakes positioned adjacent the contact assemblies.

5. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 4, wherein the heat stakes extend outwardly from the adapter block;

and wherein the cover includes wells defining through-holes and counter-bores through which the heat stakes extend when the cover is mounted to the adapter block.

6. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one shroud is a first shroud, wherein the joining member also defines a second shroud aligned with the first shroud, wherein the electrical connector of the circuit board arrangement extends through one of the shrouds when the circuit board arrangement is seated on the adapter block.

7. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit board arrangement includes a first circuit board and a second circuit board, each circuit board including a plurality of contact assembly contact pads.

8. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 7, wherein the cover includes a first cover piece, a second cover piece, and an intermediate cover piece.

9. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter block has a perimeter that defines a staggered configuration.

10. An optical adapter block assembly comprising:

(a) a first adapter block having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side, the first adapter block defining a plurality of front ports at the front of the first adapter block and a plurality of rear ports at the rear of the first adapter block, the top of the first adapter block defining an aperture for each port of the first adapter block;

(b) a second adapter block having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side, the second adapter block defining a plurality of front ports at the front of the second adapter block and a plurality of rear ports at the rear of the second adapter block, the top of the second adapter block defining an aperture for each port of the second adapter block; and

(c) a connecting member that couples to the first side of the first adapter block and to the second side of the second adapter block to hold the first and second adapter blocks together as a unit so that the front ports extend along a common plane;

(d) a circuit board extending across the top of the first adapter block, wherein a plurality of contact assemblies are mounted to the circuit board;

wherein the connecting member has a forward shroud that receives a circuit board connector when the circuit board is positioned on the first adapter block in a first orientation.

11. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 10, further comprising:

a cover coupled to the first adapter block to hold the circuit board to the first adapter block.

12. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 11, wherein the circuit board also extends across the second adapter block and the cover also couples to the second adapter bock to hold the circuit board to the second adapter block.

13. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 11, wherein the connecting member has a rearward shroud, wherein the rearward shroud receives the circuit board connector when the circuit board is positioned on the first adapter block in a second orientation that is rotated 180°

from the first orientation.

14. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 11, wherein side edges of the cover are recessed inwardly from a combined perimeter of the first and second adapter blocks.

18. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 11, wherein the circuit board also extends across the second adapter block and wherein a second cover couples to the second adapter bock to hold the circuit board to the second adapter block.

19. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 18, wherein the cover and the second cover define through-openings and the adapter block and second adapter block include latch arms sized and configured to extend through the through-openings.

20. The optical adapter block assembly of claim 18, wherein the cover and the second cover are heat staked to the adapter block and the second adapter block respectively.

15. A method of assembling a cover arrangement to an adapter block arrangement, the method comprising:

pushing a first cover piece onto a first adapter block so that latch arms of the first adapter block slide through first sections of through-openings defined in the first cover piece;

sliding the first cover piece in a first direction so that the latch arms move into second sections of the through-openings;

pushing a second cover piece onto a second adapter block so that latch arms of the second adapter block slide through first sections of through-openings defined in the second cover piece;

sliding the second cover piece in a second direction so that the latch arms move into second sections of the through-openings, the second direction being opposite the first direction; and

positioning an intermediate cover between the first and second cover pieces to inhibit movement of the first cover piece in the second direction and to inhibit movement of the second cover piece in the first direction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein sliding the first cover piece in the first direction causes latching hooks of the latch arms of the first adapter block to catch on platforms defined by the first cover piece;

and wherein sliding the second cover piece in the second direction causes latching hooks of the latch arms of the second adapter block to catch on platforms defined by the second cover piece.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein positioning an intermediate cover includes latching the intermediate cover to a joining member that couples together the first and second adapter blocks.