Optical adapter module with managed connectivity

• US 9,500,814 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pepe, Paul John, Coffey, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Radkowski, Peter
• Application Number:
  US14/669,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20160116681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• 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: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/718 Contact members provided on the PCB without an insulating housing contacts for abutting H01R12/714
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/73 connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A connection module includes a module body and a module circuit board arrangement. The module body defines a first port and an open first end providing access to the first port. The module circuit board arrangement extends across the open first end within a peripheral boundary defined by the module body. The module circuit board arrangement includes at least a first contact set that extends into the first port of the module body; an electronic controller that is electrically connected to the first contact set; and a circuit board connector facing outwardly from the module board arrangement. Example connection modules include optical adapters and electrical jacks.

Claims

1. A connection module comprising:

a module body defining a first port configured to receive a plug inserted along an insertion direction, the module body defining an open first end, the open first end providing access to the first port; and

a module circuit board arrangement extending across the open first end of the module body within a peripheral boundary defined by the module body, the module circuit board arrangement having an outer perimeter that is fully bounded by the peripheral boundary of the module body, the module circuit board arrangement including a module circuit board, at least a first contact set that extends into the first port of the module body from the module circuit board, an electronic controller disposed on the module circuit board and electrically connected to the first contact set, and a circuit board connector disposed on the module circuit board and facing outwardly from the module board arrangement.

2. The connection module of claim 1, wherein the module body forms an optical adapter that also defines a second port aligned with the first port along a common insertion axis.

3. The connection module of claim 2, wherein the module body is configured to receive optical LC connectors.

4. The connection module of claim 2, wherein the module body is configured to receive optical SC connectors.

5. The connection module of claim 2, wherein the module body is configured to receive optical MPO connectors.

6. The connection module of claim 2, wherein the open first end of the module body also provides access to the second port, and wherein the module circuit board arrangement also includes a second contact set that extends into the second port of the module body.

7. The connection module of claim 2, wherein the module body includes at least one additional pair of ports aligned along a respective insertion axis;

and wherein the module circuit board arrangement also includes another contact set that extends into one of the ports of the at least one additional pair of ports.

8. The connection module of claim 7, wherein the one of the ports is located at an opposite side of the module body from the first port.

9. The connection module of claim 1, further comprising:

a second module circuit board that extends across an open second end of the module body opposite the open first end, the second module circuit board including a second contact set extending into the second port of the module body; and

a flexible circuit extending between and electrically connecting the module circuit board and the second module circuit board.

10. The connection module of claim 9, wherein the second module circuit board does not include a circuit board connector.

11. The connection module of claim 10, wherein the second module circuit board does not include an electronic controller.

12. The connection module of claim 1, wherein the module body forms an electrical jack.

13. The connection module of claim 1, wherein the module circuit board arrangement also includes at least one light indicator that is electrically connected to the electronic controller.

14. The connection module of claim 13, wherein the module body defines a side opening through which light from the light indicator shines.

15. The connection module of claim 14, wherein the side opening is disposed between two laterally adjacent ports at a common side of the module body.

16. The connection module of claim 1, further comprising a system circuit board including a second circuit board connector, the system circuit board being configured to extend across the open first end of the module body so that the second circuit board connector mates with the circuit board connector of the module circuit board arrangement.

17. An optical adapter module comprising:

an adapter body defining first and second ports aligned along a common insertion axis, the adapter body defining an open first end bounded by a first end section of the adapter body, the open first end providing access to the first port, the adapter body defining a recessed surface within the open first end; and

an adapter circuit board arrangement seated on the recessed surface within the open first end of the adapter body so that side edges of the circuit board arrangement are disposed within the first end section of the adapter body, the adapter circuit board arrangement having an outer perimeter that is fully bounded by the first end section of the adapter body, the adapter circuit board arrangement including at least a first contact set that extends into the first port of the adapter body, the adapter circuit board arrangement also including an electronic controller that is electrically connected to the first contact set, the adapter circuit board arrangement also including a circuit board connector facing outwardly from the circuit board arrangement.

18. The optical adapter module of claim 17, wherein the adapter body defines a further recessed surface on which the light indicator seats.

19. The optical adapter module of claim 17, wherein the adapter body defines further recessed surfaces on which a support body of the first contact set seats.

20. The optical adapter module of claim 19, wherein the adapter body defines an open channel in which a distal end of an extended contact member of the first contact set is disposed.

21. A connection module comprising:

a module body defining first and second ports aligned along a common insertion axis, the module body defining an open top and an open bottom, the open top providing access to the first port, the open bottom providing access to the second port; and

an adapter circuit board arrangement coupled to the module body, the adapter circuit board arrangement including a first circuit board disposed at the open top of the module body, a second circuit board disposed at the open bottom of the module body, and a connection member that electrically connects the first and second circuit boards, the first circuit board of the adapter circuit board arrangement having an outer perimeter that is fully bounded by a peripheral boundary of the module body, each of the first and second circuit boards including at least one contact set extending into one of the ports, the first circuit board including an electronic controller that is electrically coupled to the contact sets of the first and second circuit boards, the first circuit board also including a circuit board connector electrically connected to the electronic controller, the circuit board connector facing away from the module body.

22. The connection module of claim 21, wherein the connection member is disposed external of the module body.