Optical assemblies with managed connectivity
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
17 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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).
-
Citations
20 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification