Indicating communications components via illumination

• US 9,435,969 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Connectivity UK Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Connectivity UK Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Xu, Ai Ling, Lambourn, Stephen, Cook, Alan, Standish, Ian Miles
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOONEY, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US14/082,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20140147080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 385 70- 85, 385/88, 385/92, 385134-139, 385/901, 439/278, 439/470, 439/490, 439/502, 439/537, 298/83, 340/687, 340/10.1, 324/537
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3865 fabricated by using moulding techniques shaping techniques of plastic materials in general B29C; producing plastic optical fiber connectors B29D11/0075
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3887 Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• 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 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5845 the strain relief being achieved by molding parts around cable and connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/24 Assembling by moulding on contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/138 using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4922 with molding of insulation

Abstract

A connector plug arrangement (330, 600, 700) includes a connector body (334, 610, 720); and an indication component (335, 650, 750). The indication component (335, 650, 750) includes a first portion (337, 653, 751) that is disposed at a rear end of the connector body and a second portion (339, 654, 753) that extends outwardly from the first portion (337, 653, 751). The first portion (337, 653, 751) is configured to extend along a circumferential perimeter of the connector body (334, 610, 720). The second portion (339, 654, 753) is configured to extend along the longitudinal axis of the connector body (334, 610, 720).

Claims

1. A connector plug arrangement comprising:

a connector body that is configured to terminate an optical fiber, the connector body having a longitudinal axis and an outer perimeter, the connector body defining a pocket in which a storage device can be disposed; and

an indication component coupled to the connector body, the indication component including a first portion that is disposed at a rear end of the connector body and a second portion that extends outwardly from the first portion, the first portion being configured to extend circumferentially along the outer perimeter of the connector body, the second portion being configured to extend along the longitudinal axis of the connector body, the indication component being configured to extend over an open top of the pocket defined by the connector body.

2. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1, wherein the connector plug arrangement is an LC connector.

3. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1, wherein the indication component is molded to the connector body.

4. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least part of the indication component is configured to fit flush with the outer perimeter of the connector body.

5. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1, wherein the indication component defines flat exterior surfaces that are illuminated when light is directed to the second portion of the indication component.

6. The connector plug arrangement of claim 5, wherein the flat exterior surfaces are illuminated when light is directed to any part of the indication component.

7. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1, wherein the indication component includes a forked region including a first contoured section and a second contoured section transitioning from the second portion to the first portion.

19. The connector plug arrangement of claim 1, wherein the storage device includes an RFID tag.

8. A connector plug arrangement comprising:

a connector body defining a pocket having an open top;

a storage device disposed in the pocket; and

an indication component coupled to the connector body to extend over the open top of the pocket, thereby retaining the storage device at the connector body.

9. The connector plug arrangement of claim 8, wherein a portion of the indication component extends over the open top of the pocket and another portion extends across a rear end of the connector body, the another portion defining a through-passage.

10. The connector plug arrangement of claim 9, further comprising a tube member extending through the connector body and through the through-passage of the another portion of the indication component.

11. The connector plug arrangement of claim 8, wherein the connector body defines tabs that extend across the open top of the pocket to aid in maintaining the storage device within the pocket.

12. The connector plug arrangement of claim 8, wherein the connector body is a rear body of an LC connector.

20. The connector plug arrangement of claim 8, wherein the storage device includes an RFID tag.

13. A method of manufacturing a connector plug arrangement comprising:

inserting a tube member within a rear housing to form a rear housing arrangement, the rear housing defining a pocket and tabs extending across an open top of the pocket, the tube member extends outwardly from a rear end of the rear housing;

sliding a storage device through an open end of the rear housing and into the pocket until the storage device is disposed within the pocket, the storage device being slid between a guide surface and the tabs;

molding an indication component onto the rear housing so that a first portion of the indication component wraps around the tube member and a second portion of the indication component extends over the open top of the pocket to seal the storage device within the rear housing.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the tabs are configured to retain the storage device in the pocket during molding.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein sliding the storage device into the pocket comprises sliding the storage device into the pocket until the storage device snaps over a stop member disposed within the pocket.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the storage device includes an RFID tag.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the indication component is molded of translucent material.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising coupling the rear housing to a front housing to sandwich a spring-biased ferrule arrangement therebetween.