Managed fiber connectivity systems

• US 9,453,971 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Anderson, David J., Lambourn, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Radkowski, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/939,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20140023326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 385/77, 385/78
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/381 of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• 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: G06K 2007/10485 Arrangement of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications

Abstract

A communications connection system includes an SC fiber optic connector including a storage device having memory configured to store physical layer information. The storage device also includes electrical contacts or an RFID antenna coil connected to the memory for transmitting information to a management system. The communications connection system also includes a fiber optic adapter module having one or more media reading interfaces. Each media reading interface is configured to read physical layer information stored on one of the fiber optic connectors received at the adapter module. Example media reading interfaces include electrical contacts and RFID readers.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector configured to be received at an optical adapter, the fiber optic connector comprising:

a body configured to surround an optical fiber that extends longitudinally through the body, the body having a cavity accessible through a slot defined in the body, the body including shelves that at least partially define the cavity; and

an RFID tag sealed within the cavity defined in the body, the RFID tag including a transmission member for communicating information from memory to a data management system;

wherein the slot is sized to receive the RFID tag edge-wise, and the RFID tag is seated on the shelves in the cavity.

2. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the slot opens from a front of the body.

3. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the slot opens from a rear of the body.

4. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the body includes an outer body slidable relative to an inner body, the inner body holding the optical fiber and the outer body defining a gripping portion.

5. The fiber optic connector of claim 4, wherein the fiber optic connector includes an SC connector.

6. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is disposed in a ferrule coupled to the body.

7. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, further comprising a plug piece coupled to the body to close the RFID tag within the cavity.

8. The fiber optic connector of claim 7, wherein the plug piece is welded to the body.

9. The fiber optic connector of claim 7, wherein the plug piece is glued to the body.

10. The fiber optic connector of claim 7, wherein the plug piece is overmolded to the body.

11. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the body includes an outer body slidable relative to an inner body, the inner body defining a longitudinally extending gap that aligns with a gap between the shelves.

12. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the body includes a latch for securing the fiber optic connector to an adapter.

13. The fiber optic connector of claim 12, wherein the fiber optic connector includes an LC connector.

14. The fiber optic connector of claim 12, wherein the body includes a front housing piece and a rear housing piece, the front housing piece including the latch and the rear housing piece defining the slot.

15. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the slot is overmolded shut.

16. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein a boot is mounted to the body to cover the slot.

17. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the body is a single-piece body.