Managed fiber connectivity systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communications connection system comprising:
- an adapter module defining at least a first passageway extending between first and second ends of the adapter module to define first and second ports at the first and second ends, respectively, the adapter module being configured to receive fiber optic connectors at the first and second ports, the adapter module also being configured to couple together optical fibers terminated by the fiber optic connectors;
at least a first circuit board coupled to the adapter module, the first circuit board including a plurality of first landing pads and a plurality of second landing pads, each second landing pad being longitudinally aligned with one of the first landing pads; and
at least a first media reading interface positioned in the adapter module, the first media reading interface including first, second, and third contact sections, the first contact section engaging a first one of the first landing pads of the first circuit board, the second contact section extending into the first passageway defined by the adapter module, and the third contact section being aligned with one of the second landing pads of the first circuit board, the third contact section being moveable relative to the first circuit board between engagement with and disengagement from the second landing pad longitudinally aligned with the first one of the first landing pads.
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Abstract
A communications connection system includes a fiber optic adapter module configured to receive multiple fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic adapter module includes one or more media reading interfaces. Each media reading interface is configured to determine whether a fiber optic connector is received at one of the ports of the adapter module. Certain types of connectors store physical layer information. Certain types of media reading interfaces are configured to read the physical layer information from the connector if the connector stores such information.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A communications connection system comprising:
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an adapter module defining at least a first passageway extending between first and second ends of the adapter module to define first and second ports at the first and second ends, respectively, the adapter module being configured to receive fiber optic connectors at the first and second ports, the adapter module also being configured to couple together optical fibers terminated by the fiber optic connectors; at least a first circuit board coupled to the adapter module, the first circuit board including a plurality of first landing pads and a plurality of second landing pads, each second landing pad being longitudinally aligned with one of the first landing pads; and at least a first media reading interface positioned in the adapter module, the first media reading interface including first, second, and third contact sections, the first contact section engaging a first one of the first landing pads of the first circuit board, the second contact section extending into the first passageway defined by the adapter module, and the third contact section being aligned with one of the second landing pads of the first circuit board, the third contact section being moveable relative to the first circuit board between engagement with and disengagement from the second landing pad longitudinally aligned with the first one of the first landing pads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A method of detecting whether a fiber optic connector is inserted in a fiber optic adapter, the method comprising:
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providing a coupler assembly including at least a first circuit board mounted to at least a first adapter defining a through-passage extending between front and rear ports, each adapter including at least one slot in which at least one contact element is positioned to extend between the passage and the first circuit board, wherein at least a first portion of the contact element touches a first landing on the circuit board; inserting a fiber optic connector into the passage at a front port of the first adapter including sliding a key of the fiber optic connector through the front port and into the passage; pressing the key of the fiber optic connector against a second portion of the contact element to deflect the second portion of the contact element towards the slot defined in the first adapter; and flexing a third portion of the contact element out of the slot and against a second landing on the first circuit board to complete a circuit between the first and second landings. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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21. A communications connection system comprising:
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an adapter module defining at least a first passageway extending between first and second ends of the adapter module to define first and second ports at the first and second ends, respectively, the adapter module being configured to receive fiber optic connectors at the ports, the adapter module also being configured to couple together optical fibers terminated by the fiber optic connectors; at least a first circuit board coupled to the adapter module, the first circuit board including a plurality of first landing pads and a plurality of second landing pads, each second landing pad being longitudinally aligned with one of the first landing pads; at least a first media reading interface positioned in the adapter module, the first media reading interface including first, second, and third contact sections, the first contact section engaging one of the first landing pads of the first circuit board, the second contact section extending into the first passageway defined by the adapter module, and the third contact section being aligned with one of the second landing pads of the circuit board, the third contact section being moveable relative to the first circuit board between engagement with and disengagement from the second landing pad; a first fiber optic connector received at the first port of the adapter module, the first fiber optic connector including a key that engages the second contact section of the first media reading interface, wherein the second contact section biases the third contact section into engagement with the circuit board, wherein the first fiber optic connector is an MPO-type fiber optic connector; a second circuit board coupled to the adapter module opposite from the first circuit board, the second circuit board including a plurality of first landing pads and a plurality of second landing pads, each second landing pad being longitudinally aligned with one of the first landing pads; a second media reading interface positioned in the adapter module, the second media reading interface including first, second, and third contact sections, the first contact section of the second media reading interface being configured to engage one of the first landing pads of the second circuit board, the second contact section of the second media reading interface being configured to extend into the first passageway defined by the adapter module, and the third contact section of the second media reading interface being configured to move between engagement and disengagement of one of the second landing pads of the second circuit board; and a second fiber optic connector received at the second port of the adapter module, the second fiber optic connector including a key that engages the second contact section of the second media reading interface, which biases the third contact section of the second media reading interface into engagement with the second circuit board to form a complete circuit between the first and second landing pads of the second circuit board.
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22. A communications connection system comprising:
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an adapter module defining at least a first passageway extending between first and second ends of the adapter module to define first and second ports at the first and second ends, respectively, the adapter module being configured to receive fiber optic connectors at the ports, the adapter module also being configured to couple together optical fibers terminated by the fiber optic connectors, wherein the adapter module defines a plurality of additional passageways, each passageway extending between first and second ports; at least a first circuit board coupled to the adapter module, the first circuit board including a plurality of first landing pads and a plurality of second landing pads, each second landing pad being longitudinally aligned with one of the first landing pads; at least a first media reading interface positioned in the adapter module, the first media reading interface including first, second, and third contact sections, the first contact section engaging one of the first landing pads of the first circuit board, the second contact section extending into the first passageway defined by the adapter module, and the third contact section being aligned with one of the second landing pads of the circuit board, the third contact section being moveable relative to the first circuit board between engagement with and disengagement from the second landing pad; and a plurality of additional media reading interfaces positioned in the adapter module, each additional media reading interface including first, second, and third contact sections, wherein the first contact section of each additional media reading interface is configured to engage one of the first pads of the first circuit board, the second contact section is configured to extend into one of the additional passageways defined by the adapter module, and the third contact section being configured to engage one of the second pads of the circuit board so that the media reading interface forms a complete circuit between the first and second pads of the circuit board only when a fiber optic connector is received at one of the ports of the respective passageway.
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Specification